Brooklyn teens (and their librarians) talking about their favorite books, sharing original art and writing, and promoting cool free stuff to do!
Mexico: Defending My Country by Eric Gonzalez Cardona - COMIC
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
Mexico: Defending My Country by Eric Gonzalez Cardona was a Finalist in Brooklyn Public Library's 2021 Teen Writing Contest for the Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. You can view the work of other finalists and winners in the 2021 Teen Writing Journal. Copies will be available for a limited time in the Youth Wing of the Central Library starting August 9.
College Talks #1: Thinking About College
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Hello! If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about college, and have no idea where to start. Well, I have good news for you! This series called “College Talks” will help you and guide you on where to start when thinking about college. I’m a high school senior as of right now and will be attending Baruch College in the fall of 2021 so I can totally understand the stress that comes with choosing colleges. If you want even more help, Brooklyn Library has its own service called College Connect where you can ask questions about college as well as get help with doing applications…
Addressing Racism and Discrimination
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Awa has compiled excerpts from a presentation and discussion she led recently about racism and discrimination for Brooklyn Public Library. Origins of Racism The origins of white supremacy and racism in the United States are centuries old, dating to 1619, when enslaved people were brought from Africa to the Virginia colony. Fast forward to the era of entertainment, two centuries later. Blackface was highly common on television. African-Americans were depicted to look and act like monkeys. I never noticed this until someone pointed it out: clowns, with their…
I Am Not a Virus
Recently, there has been an increase in hate crimes towards the Asian American community. In order to raise more awareness of this topic, I decided to make a poster and book flyer for Asian American rights. Through these posters, I want to convey that these hate crimes are unfounded and should not be tolerated. Michelle Lin is a Librarians of Tomorrow intern and a senior at Brooklyn Technical High School.
Paid Opportunities and More for Teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! If you're looking for some tips on the job search, one of our teen Librarians of Tomorrow interns is offering a virtual program, Tips for Interview Prep for Teens, this Friday. She'll share some tips on how to look for jobs, what to put on a resume, and what to do in the interview, plus breakout rooms for…
Free Summer Ideas for Teens!
Ripley Butterfield | BookMatch Teen
Right now, many teens are anxiously wondering, “What is this summer going to look like?” This is true across the United States and the world, as more and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19. (If you are 16 years or older anywhere in the US you can get a vaccine right now! Click here to find walk-in appointments in NYC!). In New York City, the summertime cultural shift is already becoming obvious. On days around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and above, the streets of Brooklyn are bustling with people: kids drawing with chalk, people holding stoop sales, neighbors talking on the corner.…
Reading Through the Seasons
In all honesty, the pandemic has stretched longer than I initially anticipated and has shaped my perspectives in ways I didn’t imagine. I have consistently found more time on my hands as a result of quarantine, and if you’re like me—someone who is always searching for worthy books to occupy my day—then you’re in luck! Without further ado, I present to you the best book to read based on the season of the year. Winter: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee Ah, winter, the frosty, bone-chilling season. As someone who has a perpetual fear of the cold, I become strongly attached…
Cycle Alliance Maxi Pad Distribution: Friday, May 21
Rakisha, Branch Manager/Kings BayBrooklyn Public Library’s Cycle Alliance and Her Village Inc. will be co-hosting a menstrual product distribution and donation event on Friday, May 21 at 2 p.m. Approximately 100 packages of maxi pads will be given to menstruators in need. The public is also encouraged to donate unopened boxes of maxi pads, panty shields, tampons, menstrual cups, and children’s and adult diapers to stock future distribution days. The Cycle Alliance launched in the fall of 2019 as part of the Brooklyn Public Library’s BKLYN Incubator initiative. Through …
Israel's Attack on Palestine’s Al -Aqsa Mosque
Zoha B. | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Israel has been torturing Palestinians for years now. The attack on the holy mosque (Masjid - Al - Aqsa) isn’t something new, and that itself says how oppressed Palestinians have been, for the longest time. Even though this has been going on for so long, it’s like every time I hear of a new attack on Palestine, it hurts more and more. What’s super devastating is the fact that, with this recent incident, the Israelis chose to attack in the few remaining days of Ramadan, the most holy month for Muslims. The young kids who were reaching out to Allah (God in Arabic) to help them recover from…
A Selection of Poetry
Zhi Xin Huang | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
She She was red, because people thought she was attractive and heartwarming She was green, because people thought she loved nature and got jealous easily She was blue, because people thought she was quiet and reserved She was yellow, because people thought she was optimistic and full of joy She was pink because people thought she was immature and oversensitive She was not purple because people thought she was predictable She was not orange because people thought she was fragile She was not gray because people thought she was attached She was not brown because people thought she was…
Why I Love Ramadan
Aqsa Tasleem | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
For Muslims, this is the lunar month of Ramadan in which we fast and pray to our God (Allah). Ramadan both starts and ends on the New Moon – when the moon is barely a sliver in the sky. This year, Ramadan is celebrated from Monday, April 12, 2021 through Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Many world religions follow a lunar calendar, including Lunar New Year in Asian cultures. In addition, the Jewish religion’s holiday of Passover occurs on the 15th day in the lunar month of Nisan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day. They wake up at dawn to eat their…
Announcing the 2021 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Prize Winners
Karen, Coordinator of Young Adult Services
We received hundreds of submissions, and the Teen Writing Contest Committee is pleased to announce the following prizes, honors, and selections for the 2021 Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize. Poetry Middle School First Place: Where I’m From by Nwabude Anthony-Alexandre Ibeanu Second Place: One Thirteenth by Ivy Laidlaw-Morris Honorable Mention: Breezy B by Brian Babb Honorable Mention: Free (After S.E. Hinton) by Iago Macknik-Conde Honorable Mention: The Swamp by Tara Wong High School First Place: Type Designer by Kai Giovanni Second Place…
YA Verse Novels for National Poetry Month
Happy National Poetry Month! If you also like poetry, or novels-in-verse, check out any, or all of these five books! APPLE: SKIN TO THE CORE BY ERIC GANSWORTH: "The term "Apple" is a slur in Native communities across the country. It's for someone supposedly "red on the outside, white on the inside." Eric Gansworth is telling his story in Apple (Skin to the Core). The story of his family, of Onondaga among Tuscaroras, of Native folks everywhere. From the horrible legacy of the government boarding schools, to a boy watching his siblings leave and return and leave again, to a young…
A Poem for Ramadan
This poem is centered around Ramadan, a spiritual holy month for Muslims. I captured the importance and what this special month means to me. Also, how Ramadan shapes how I perceive everyday things and moments. I keep this month very close to my heart. which I attempted to write about in this poem. The Holy Month of Ramadan Indeed it is not a burden, but a blessing. from dawn to dusk to talk with you is to talk with he who illuminates noor the flowers that you so blossom during this month and celebrate this as if you’ve been given a new beginning, a restart as…
Happy Earth Day!
Teen artist Yanari Rodriguez created this poster to promote Earth Day, and gives some background here. Thank you, Yanari! Happy Earth Day to all! My inspiration for creating this poster is my love for nature. Going outside every morning and taking a breath of fresh air gives me a purpose and makes me feel alive. I feel it is necessary to take care of our beautiful planet, because without it, where would we all be?
Oshi No Ko Manga Review
Brought to you by the same manga artist of Kaguya-sama: Love is War and the manga artist of Kuzu No Honkai, the story initially follows a sparkling idol of fake smiles, Hoshino Ai, and a doctor who idolizes her. However, an accident happens, and the doctor soon finds himself to be reincarnated as his idol’s son, Hoshino Aquamarine. Together with his twin sister, Ruby, who also reincarnated, the characters took steps into the showbiz industry. The story centralizes itself on the showbiz/entertainment industry. It explores what happens behind the scenes and shows how everything isn’t as…
Book Review: The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
At nineteen, Nirrim is everything her foster mother wants her to be. She is patient, dutiful, and a hard worker—traits that benefit her low status. She has never tasted anything sweet or worn color; those things are reserved for the High Kith, the rulers her people serve. More importantly, she has never left Herranth, the militarized city that she calls home. There is no room for questioning anything in Herranth. Should any citizen step out of line, they are made to pay a tithe. The tithe can be anything from a few lost pieces of hair to actual fingers. Nirrim knows to keep her head down…
Paid Opportunities & More for Teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We will post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly here to make sure our info is up to date. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! Opportunities at Brooklyn Public Library BPL's Teen Writing Contest If you're a teen writer from New York City, grades 6-12, you're invited to submit your poetry and prose to be judged by a panel of BPL's expert young adult librarians for creativity, style and voice. Accepting…
The Grammys are a Scam
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you watched this year’s Grammys like I did, chances are you were also angered by who received the pop duo performance award. Nominated for the Best pop/duo performance were: J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy- "UN DIA (ONE DAY)" Justin Bieber feat. Quavo- "Intentions" BTS - "Dynamite" Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande- "Rain On Me" Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver- "exile" Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande won for“Rain On Me.” No disrespect to those AMAZING artists. However, BTS’s "Dynamite" had so many more achievements than "Rain On Me." "Dynamite" was on top of the charts for…
Summer Museum Internship - GOALS for Girls with the Intrepid
This internship application is due April 6th and has a few steps, so hurry if you want to apply! Are you someone who identifies as a girl in 8th or 9th grade in NYC? Do you like science, technology, or computers, and want to meet other girls who like exploring how to solve problems? Looking for a cool experience this summer that will help build your resume? Check out GOALS for Girls at the Intrepid Museum. They are looking for girls in all five boroughs to participate in a summer intensive, and if you enjoy your experience, to become interns for one of the wildest museums in NYC (ever…
Our Story
We are thought to be invisible in history- to not voice our thoughts, and to stay at home and not be seen. We are thought to be silent- to listen and not be heard to swallow and gulp down our words of anguish beneath our tongues. But we can no longer be invisible, because we have learned to raise our voices- the meeting at Seneca Falls, and the series of protests that follows. We as women have united and will no longer be silent under abuse, to voice our thoughts and sufferings and to be set free under the wings of independence. Michelle Lin is…
Enter BPL's Teen Writing Contest!
Brooklyn Public Library's Teen Writing Contest is still accepting submissions, through March 31! The contest is open to middle and high schoolers all over NYC. Get the details and the link to submit here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/teen-writing-contest Need some inspiration? Here is a list of books selected by BookMatch Teen for their spectacular writing.
Storytime with the Pajama Club
New York City high school student Madison Xu is launching a free virtual storytime for children, filled with stories from around the world! Read on for some background, and program details, from Madison. When I was younger, my mom was always there to help me find amazing books about different cultures and people. I loved the way that the words could transform even the most distant living experiences into something familiar. I’ve always noticed the lack of more diverse and international narratives within our educational institutions and our popularized children's books. This…
Top Five Scary Movies You SHOULDN'T Watch!
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you’re a horror fan like I am, chances are that during quarantine you’ve been binge watching every scary movie out there, you're now used to cheap jumpscares, and nothing has gotten you. Well, this list contains five of the highest rated horror movies, all of which are filmed as found footage! Watch at your own risk.... Gonjiam Haunted Asylum- This movie gave me the chills and it has to be the scariest one on this list. It follows the story of six people who break into an abandoned haunted asylum, livestreaming the whole thing. It takes a while for all the…
Building Virtual Friendships
One of the biggest losses for me over the course of quarantine has been my social life. There were so many people who I would see every day at school, and I had a lot of friends. However, when we weren’t able to go to school anymore, I lost contact with a lot of them and only really remained in touch with my best friends. I started to feel lonely and wished that I could make new friends. Finding ways to be social and meet people while following all COVID guidelines was difficult—but it was possible! I know it can be really daunting to interact with people over Zoom, especially when…
COVID-19 Day of Remembrance with BookMatch Teen
Sunday, March 14 is COVID-19 Day of Remembrance, an official day of remembrance in New York City. In honor of this day, BookMatch Teen members have created a list of the books that got them through this past year. What books, or shows, games or songs, helped you? Want more good reads? Fill out this short form, and BookMatch Teen will send you a personalized booklist.
Young Women's Stories of Past and Present
Yesterday, March 8th was International Women's Day and March itself is Women's History Month. While a Women & Gender Studies major in college, I learned all about how women's lives and experiences have NOT been front and center in literature, the news, history, media, etc. for far too long. Especially Women of Color (WoC) and queer and trans women. Therefore, I present to you five of my favorite novels about young women and their quest to better understand themselves and the world around them in the past and present. Displacement by Kiku…
Learn Hip Hop with Dyalekt!
Calling young hip-hop enthusiasts! Now's your chance to get the basics on how to drop your rhymes. Join us for two classes with educator and performer Dyalekt. On the first session Dyalekt will teach you the basics. Then on the second session you can try out what you learned! Registration required, this event holds up to 15 people. This event will be held over Zoom, registrants will be emailed a link prior to the event. Please call librarian Eric Horwitz if you have questions: (718) 398-8713. This program is brought to you by a generous grant from the Kaplan Fund. …
Black Heroes You May Not Have Heard Of
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
Everyone has heard of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks, but there are others out there who have made a huge impact. Here are five Black heroes you may not have heard of. Linda Brown- Does Brown v. Board of Education sound familiar to you? Well, this was the little girl who was barred from attending an elementary school because she was Black. She fought for equality in education and brought up the idea that segregations in schools was unlawful. She is one of the many reasons that schools aren’t segregated these days. Thanks, Linda Brown! Fred Jones- A…
Internships, free classes and more for teens
Looking for a paid internship, a scholarship, or a free class? We will post opportunities for teens from BPL and other NYC institutions regularly here to make sure our info is up to date. Feel free to contact BPL or email bklynfuture@bklynlibrary.org with any questions about these and other opportunities! Opportunities at Brooklyn Public Library BPL's Teen Writing Contest If you're a teen writer from New York City, grades 6-12, you're invited to submit your poetry and prose to be judged by a panel of BPL's expert young adult librarians for creativity, style and voice. Accepting…
Silence
Silence Silent night Silent morning Silent fun Silent boring Cost me a great deal Worth the peace Quiet to observe my happiness That I alone have given to me “WHy SIlence,I want to scream!!!!!!” As I watch the souls express As they understand themselves but not others As I understand the standards of those who do not test their selves It is my silent day It is my silent moment It is my silent pleasure And my silent life that I have been enduring Silence once again…
Anime/Manga Review: Dr. Stone
Synopsis 3,700 years have passed- and all of humanity has turned into stone. The story initially takes place in the modern world with the genius highschool scientist Senku and his childhood friends Taiju and Yuzuriha. On the day when Taiju was about to confess to Yuzuriha, the Earth was struck by a mysterious green light, and humanity was petrified. After several millenniums, Senku and his friends broke away from the stone and found their civilization destroyed. However, together with Senku’s smarts and Taiju’s strength, they began to revive humanity and rebuild their civilization…
King
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” —Martin Luther King Jr. Let them break our legs, bash our heads, but as swiftly as we fell, we’ll rise. Let them shoot us in the back and watch the blood seep into the ground, but, as long as they keep firing, we’ll keep moving. Let them strip us of our bronze skin, down to the blood and bones we share, but we’ll show them the power embedded in our minds because You can’t break the wings of a bird and expect it not to sing. You can’t shoot the king…
Top Five Movies to Watch for Black History Month
Awa Diawara | Librarians of Tomorrow Intern
If you’re looking for a great movie to watch during Black History Month, then this list is for you! Below I’ve listened a few AMAZING movies you must watch, if it's Black History Month or not. Twelve Years a Slave (2013) This movie is an essential. It's about Solomon Northup, a free black man who lived in the North and was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The movie follows his struggle to survive and how he spent the next twelve years of his life fighting to be free again. A MUST watch! Antebellum (2020) Viewers are saying that this movie has a HUGE plot twist at the…
Silence
Has left me in bliss Stoned forever Withholding my tongue Nibbling on my mumbled words Mistaken them for none Tears shiver Triggering my emotions Source or weapon To keep my point form going You withled my tongue Weaponized my manipulation Claiming to be what may be love Only in your eyes will be salvation Truth may be told for you May I ask “What is peace” What availability must I approach for you Stepping over my boundaries
Meet a Librarians of Tomorrow Intern!
Demetria Baptiste & Karelisa Kimmel
Demetria Baptiste is an 11th grader at Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn and a participant in the Librarians of Tomorrow (LoT) internship program. She is currently working with the Paerdegat branch on virtual programs. We caught up with her to learn more about teen life during a pandemic and what’s on her bookshelf! What's school look like for you this year? School for me this year is actually pretty easy. It is a lot less stressful, I can do everything how I want to, and I have more time to get more done in a day. For example, being at home eliminated my thirty minute commute to…
Revamping High School Reads
I think high school literature needs a serious update. There are the “classics” we’re always required to read—Romeo and Juliet, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men—and while they’re great books that have valuable themes, they’re also so stale. They’ve been assigned on a loop to kids, and their parents, and their parents' parents. Most high schoolers can’t connect with or don’t care about Jay Gatsby and Holden Caulfield: they’re all often white, very Eurocentric, and authored by men. Anyone who has read a book published in the last five to ten years knows that there’s…
Untitled
Pressure to make it Pressure to only succeed Winning to embrace heroic intentions But only to gain heroic attention Has the struggle not been noticed Has the tears not reflected on the surface of our face Falling down symbolizing our past failures Yet covered,yet seen through a clear glass vase Broken down to pieces Never to be seen Only in the heat of the moment What is revealed to us is the struggles we have bled and fought through in secrecy
Featured Poem: YOU by Mehrin Faisal
Featured Poem: YOU by Mehrin Faisal YOU I’ve seen you with the corner of my eyes, I’ve gotten to know you by the way you socialize, I’ve asked God for your replies, When I’ve prayed with my eyes set on the skies. I’ve seen the beauty of your eyes, I’ve seen the way it captures lies, I’ve seen the way your heart aches, When our love song belies. I’ve communicated with you through my eyes, I’ve seen the way they verbalize, I’ve vocalized my thoughts through my eyes, When I’ve thought you’d apprize. I’ve seen the pain in your eyes, I’ve seen the way…
A Night of a Thousand Stars
I remember when I was alone and cold. Especially in freshman year of college, you were there across the hall from me, wearing your baggy sweats, with your imperfectly perfect bangs, complimenting your beanie. There you were, listening to that song, KANON. The way the chords complimented each other, how peace transformed into thunderous harmony. Every key turned into you. The look you gave me. The look you saw from me. Was it the same look? I don’t know. I remember how the song complimented your blue eyes, how it rushed and flowed like the ocean, neverending, never standing still. How can one…
Book Review: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
In Natasha Ngan’s world, Ikhara, there is an oppressive hierarchy in place. The Moon Caste are the unequivocal rulers of Ikhara; they are fully demon, possessing demon traits and heritage. They rule Ikhara with an iron fist. The Steel Caste is second best to the Moon Caste, as they are humans with demonic traits. The Paper Caste are the lowest of the low, being fully human. They are the most disrespected and overlooked members of Ikhara’s society. Lei and her father belong to the Paper Caste. When Lei is ten, the soldiers of the Demon King come for her mother. Lei never sees her again…
Untitled
Can we start over And pretend to see the light So it may come to vision And see the stars align A man once loved a woman Lived his life for a cure A cure of pure simplicity And this woman has made him sure Moving too fast Forgetting his patience Caught up in a trance of love Barely noticing what has been fading Memories keeping him alive Making him saint Turning him to an angel A position to not faint
Where Did My Democracy Go?
I have always loved America. The idea that everyone’s opinions can be represented through democracy makes me feel validated as a citizen. Lately, I feel like this right of mine is being pried from my hands. All across social media, respect for others and their opinions has become a foreign concept. People are being attacked and unfollowed for their political views. Peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters are labeled as violent. Recently, a student at my school told her friend that he was brave for telling people who he was voting for. Why should we have to be brave in order to express…
The Joy in Quarantine
It’s absolutely wild to think that we are approaching the one-year anniversary of our lives being put on pause. Many of us were so busy before being abruptly forced to stay at home with limited options of how to occupy ourselves. I confess that the first few months, sitting around being overwhelmed by my boredom were pretty rough. I realized that this period in my life was going to last longer than I initially anticipated, so I decided that I needed to find some things to make quarantine more bearable. Taking up a New Hobby With my days now free, I wanted to put all that extra time to good…
Haters
People tell you, you are too dark like an ink, People tell you, you are extremely unattractive like villains, People tell you, you are really unsmart like SpongeBob, People tell you, you are too short like an elf, People tell you, you are too tall like a giraffe People tell you, you are too skinny like a dry fish, People tell you, you are too fat like an elephant, But…. You should tell them, NOBODY IS PERFECT, Everyone has something they are concerned about, Whether it’s their appearance or their characteristics, Nobody is perfect, This is…
Getting Out to Brooklyn's Green Spaces
It’s no surprise that a lot of teenagers don’t spend time outside very often; many of us barely leave our rooms. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a contributor to this, of course. Things like shopping and traveling to indoor places are difficult, if not impossible. I’ve lamented a lot about how I don’t have access to my old refuge away from home: the Central Library. Without safe, comfortable spaces like that, it kind of feels pointless to leave the house. However, I think many teens are really missing out on local green spaces—even if they aren’t currently so green. Those of us that…
Finding Quarantine Hobbies
Over the past year, people have picked up many different hobbies. Seeing others’ success in sewing, music, writing, and painting made me want to try these pastimes. But each thing I tried never worked, and I would get frustrated when I was not an automatic expert. Ultimately, reading became my favorite thing to do because of the comfort it brings—certainly needed during quarantine. It was something steady I could lean on after being thrown into such an unusual year. I researched many books and realized that I wanted to start with the classics—the “blueprints” of literature. Anyone looking to…
Interested in finding what do you like to do?
Christina, Branch Manager/Mill Basin
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Steve Jobs, Former Apple CEO I worked in my neighborhood library when I was 17 (late ‘80s) and I loved it! I learned how to research for my school reports, and I was able to show other kids how to do their own research. I felt like I was being helpful, and I did something valuable. I loved it so much I wanted to become a librarian, so I looked it up in the OOH. The Occupational…
2021 New Year's Resolutions: Yay or Nay?
I'm so grateful 2020 is FINALLY over and I'm sure many of you are too. At the end of each year I set a minimum of five resolutions or goals for the next year. This year, I hope to: Get my driver's license Read fifty books Move into a new apartment Bake at least once a month, and... Try watercolor painting, again. Setting goals can be fun. They can help motivate you, keep you focused and feel a sense of accomplishment. They can also be torturous! In Mia Garcia's novel, The Resolutions, four high school seniors and best friends assign each other dares, instead of resolutions on…
Unearthing Downtown Manhattan: The African Burial Ground National Monument
Ash Bass-Adams | BookMatch Teen
“The tiny plot was what had been set aside now to indicate the spot, but in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the site had been large, some six acres, as far north as present-day Duane Street, and as far south as City Hall Park. Along Chambers Street and in the park itself, human remains were still routinely uncovered. But most of the burial ground was now under office buildings, shops, streets, diners, pharmacies, all the endless hum of quotidian commerce and government. Into this earth had been interred the bodies of some fifteen to twenty thousand blacks, most of them slaves…