Corey Jacobs, CEO and founder of Winnergy, recently visited the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle, a profound experience that resonated deeply with his personal history and the mission of his company.
“As I stand in the dungeons below Cape Coast Castle, it is hard to fathom what our ancestors went through to be put in this place,” Jacob says. This historic site has come to symbolize the journey – at times, profound and surreal – that connects past to present through both personal and collective history.
Bridging the Past and Present
“In one of the oppressive enclosures where more than 200 of our ancestors were enslaved, I am instantly reminded of my father, who hails from Africa, and my 17 years of imprisonment in America,” Jacobs explains.
Separated by poles in nature and scope, nonetheless, both experiences connect him as much to the legacy of pain and hope that has transcended generations.
Enduring Unimaginable Cruelty
Our ancestors were forced out of their country, made to live in terrible conditions, and dragged to America against their will. In this dungeon, women and children, some as young as thirteen, were held captive. The conditions were deplorable: they defecated, urinated, vomited, and menstruated in the very space they were confined. The haunting image of women with their menses flowing and drying on their bodies is a stark reminder of the inhumanity they endured.
A Humbling Realization
Visiting it firsthand, Jacob realized that the fear he felt was not even close to what these people had been through. “Our ancestors were kept in these dungeons for up to three months, often without food, surviving on scraps from the ground. It is humbling to see such strength and resilience in the face of such brutal adversity,” he reflects.
Renewed Purpose and Gratitude
As much as this visit was important for Jacob, it sparked a sense of urgency and responsibility in him, which he took back home. “Their almost incomprehensible suffering has brought me to my knees in gratitude for life and our kinship,” he says. It’s a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience embedded in our heritage.
Living with Purpose and Gratitude
As we honor their legacy, let us recreate our lives in the values they left behind and be thankful. We must take solace in understanding that their pain was not purposeless; it has constructed the present, and it will guide us into the future.
For us at Winnergy, their resiliency is our inspiration to make a future where we not only see the past but also recognize what we have lost as a society and fight for a world that stands up for equality and justice.
So let’s change lives with us at Winnergy by adopting a growth mindset. Join our movement for positive change and together, let’s win at life.
