The Ark of Return
The creation of The Ark of Return, The Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, began in 2007 when the United Nations General Assembly (A RES 62 122) agreed to the establishment of a memorial to honor victims of the slave trade and to reflect upon its modern--day legacy. In 2011, through an international competition for the design of the monument, Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon was selected for the project and on 25 March 2015 the memorial was unveiled for the first time, marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The Ark of the Return is composed of three elements, the first of which, Acknowledge the Tragedy, depicts a carved map of the Triangular Trade emphasizing the global scale of the slave trade. The second element, Consider the Legacy, is a sculpture of a person lying in a marble alcove underneath images of the interior of a slave ship, representing the human spirit and evoking a sense of what those aboard a slave ship experienced. Lastly, the third element. entitled Lest We Forget, consists of a triangular reflecting pool with a waterfall extending out to the front of the monument and serves as a place for contemplation of the future.
Architect Rodney Leon expressed the desire to create a memorial that served as a spiritual space of return, as he hoped that the Ark of Return could be “a vessel where we can begin to create a counter-narrative and undo some of that experience.”
The acknowledgement and awareness of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its intergenerational violence is central to the principles of the United Nations. The United Nations hopes that this monument will serve as an educational tool on the dangers of racism and the lingering consequences of slavery felt still. The Permanent Memorial acknowledges one of the most horrific tragedies of recent history but is also a reminder of the bravery and heroic actions of slaves, abolitionists, and unsung heroes who faced grave danger in their defiance. The Permanent Memorial is a reminder of what the United Nations represents at its core: the preservation of the dignity and worth of all human beings.
The Permanent Memorial was funded through contributions by member states, with particular leadership by CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union.