LOOKING BACK TO EFFECTIVELY MOVE FORWARD
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It is intended to convey the need to make “benevolent use of the past” in order to make progress into the future. The literal translation of the word and symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” At the heart of the concept is the importance of a careful investigation of the past in order to understand the present and gain knowledge needed for the future. This work is rooted in the spirit of Sankofa. It is also important to note that this is not a finished document. Our hope is that community members, history buffs, educational institutions, and other community-based organizations will take this document and add to it and share with others. Finally, and most importantly, this document is not put forth to be simply read. While we hope the reader will find the content engaging, our sincere desire is that this document will serve as a conversation starter. We hope families, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and other organizations will create real engagement with this writing and robust conversations about what it means to Baton Rouge’s future.