St. Croix’s Wayne James, president of the Homeward Bound Foundation, is in Paris to interview for the International Humanitarian medal.
James is being considered for his work on the Middle Passage Monument Project, which honors the millions of African people killed during the transatlantic slave trade. The first aspect of the project saw a monument lowered onto the floor of the Atlantic Ocean 427 kilometers from New York Harbor on July 3.
The sculpture faces Africa and between 2000 and 2005 will be accompanied by replicas to be placed on land in the six regions of the world where the slave trade occurred, namely Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, North America and South America.
The International Humanitarian Medal, awarded only 12 times in its 36-year history, is administered by the Switzerland-based Institut International de Promotion et de Prestige. The award recognizes individuals and organizations who have made international contributions.
According to the IIPP, the Middle Passage Project is being considered because it is "ambitious, educational, universal, humanitarian, courageous and relevant to a large field of people."
James is the youngest nominee in the history of the award.
"It is an honor just to be nominated for the award," James said. "And it is comforting to know that the international community, 500 years later, is finally ready to recognize and assess the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the world as we know it today. With this heightened consciousness, I look forward to better race relations in the coming millennium."
Meanwhile, the Homeward Bound Foundation is releasing a CD to raise funds for the Middle Passage Project. The CD, "If The Ocean Had A Voice" features a variety of hip hop, rap, reggae, gospel, Latin and Afro-Cuban artists.
Proceeds from the CD sales will be used to construct the six monuments in the areas of the world touched by the transatlantic slave trade. For more information on the Middle Passage Project,click here.
