Excerpt from “Medieval Colonial” by Robin Coste Lewis

Excerpt from “Medieval Colonial” 

A Negro Slave Woman

Carrying a Cornucopia

Representing Africa 

A Negro Slave Woman

Holding a Plate of Tropical Fruits

Including a Pineapple

A Negro Servant Boy

Brings in a Tray

Of Filled Glasses Winged 

Female Figure of Hope

Leaning

On an Anchor

And Holding a Wreath

Over an Inscribed Monument

With a Bale of Cotton 

And a Ship

In the Background Negro Boy

Holding Feathers in His Left Hand 

Pointing to Hope

And a Book

Under His Right Arm

And a Black Man

Holding a Rifle

And pointing to the Arms 

Of the United States

Above to Their Side

Is a Ballot 

Box and Behind

Them a Loco

Motive

:

At Auction Negro Man in Loincloth

serves liquor to Men Bidding 

on The Slaves while A Slave Woman

attends Two Women Observing The Sale. 

African Slave Encased in an Iron Mask

and Collar Slave Children starting out 

to harvest coffee on an oxcart.

Negroes under a date palm. 

Negro Woman Seated

at a table, facing 

left, writing

with a quill.