Sankofa Journey: Honoring the Enslaved Burial Ground at Monticello

As a full-time RV family navigating the backroads of American history, our travel itinerary is intentionally designed to look past the grand architecture of classic plantations. To truly understand our roots and practice the principle of Sankofa—reaching back to gather the knowledge of the past to guide our future—we must stand directly on the ground where the foundations were built.

Our recent roadschooling stop brought us to a quiet, forested clearing just down the path from Thomas Jefferson's primary estate: The Enslaved Burial Ground at Monticello. It is a sacred space stripped of brick and mortar, marked instead by the solemn expanse of nature and the profound weight of unrecorded names.

A Family Reflection in the Clearing

Standing in that space alongside my daughter and granddaughter, the atmosphere shifted completely. We left a humble tribute of pennies upon the soil—a quiet, traditional token of honor, remembrance, and ancestral respect. In those moments of deep reflection, the past didn't feel like a closed chapter in a school book; it felt alive, breathing through the trees surrounding us.

The Watchful Eye: An Uncanny Encounter

As we concluded our quiet walk and prepared to step back onto the main path, an extraordinary moment stopped us in our tracks. Perched perfectly on a low branch right above the boundary line was a local hawk. It sat motionless, keeping a steady, calm, and watchful eye directly on our family as we paid our respects. For those of us tracking historical lineages and spirit signs, it felt like a clear nod of protection and acknowledgement over our ongoing family journey.