Sankofa: Bringing The Past Forward
Our mini United Nations family.
Returning home during a college winter break (Everyone had more hair then).
Sankofa
(click above for YouTube)
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word:
“It is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.”
Meet Gary Williams!
Gary Williams, a Public Allies Baltimore Alumnus, shared his family’s history of service through his grandmother’s passion and love of gardening.
Sankofa is symbolized by a bird with its feet facing forward and its head looking back.
“Taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present to make progress in the future.
Go back and get it…”
Gary addresses food apartheid, the inequitable access to fresh, affordable and healthy food due to racial and economic policies, by utilizing Afrocentric, Pan-African, and human rights frameworks, which anchor language and liberation action through food; for Gary - he has brought forward the spirit of his Grandmother’s efforts from the past of feeding whole communities from her garden.
There are other ways and reasons why looking back can actually help. Lux Ganzon lists a few things here:
When you look back, you can see how far you’ve gone.
You need to forget some feelings, but you need to remember the lessons.
Looking back can remind you of why you’re here and where you are going.
Sometimes closure is needed.
“The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.”
So, what holds us back? Many experts, such as consultant William Bridges, have documented that individuals, teams and organizations may hold back from fully embracing a future vision because they sense a loss. Perhaps they cannot see a role for themselves in the future, or perhaps they fear that what they value will no longer be valued.
“Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”
As a yogi, I always appreciated lessons that followed a karmic theme. Roshan Bhondekar wrote a short blog about Why Past Is More Important Than ‘Present’ Be Careful — Karma Follows You.
In our past we see our failures and our enemies, our victories and our defeats. Engaging with the past allows people in both the present and future to learn without having to endure those lessons; but the challenging present is a constantly moving place. It is the place we live in, and it is the most unstable of all because the present never stops moving. Our entire life is lived in the present.
“If life can be good despite those circumstances, then why am I holding myself back?”
We all seem to be in manifestation mode and you may be wondering, “Are there any specific methods I can do to help myself?” Well, YES! Activities that you wish to do in the future, any experiences, dreams and passions - write them all down. Once you have a plan firmly rooted in your mind, you probably won’t even need to think about it again. By using this method of writing your wishes and longings down, you are merging your present with your future. Your goals may be about the future, but you’ll be living life for today.
