ACCRA, Ghana – Tuesday, May 19, 2020,/ https://africanpostonline.com/– Over 40 protested masked and unmasked on Friday, May 15, protested in the US in Humbolt County in Califonia courthouse over the lockdown due to COVID-19, some were seen holding racist placards which have since gone viral.
A white woman identified as Greta Stegner, wearing a red scarf who is a school teacher, and another Larkin Small a photographer, held a placard with a picture of a popular slave Escrava Anastacia, an African slave venerated in Brazilian folklore.
The placard depicts a black-and-white image of a young woman wearing a muzzle covering the mouth, with the accompanying message: “Muzzles are for dogs and slaves. I am a free human being.”
Their action was regarded widely as racist and intensely offensive.
Stenger on Monday apologized for the image and claimed the placard with the racist message was handed over to her by another protester at the demonstration. and was not her own.
The two allegedly racist women have both deleted their social media accounts.
Escrava Anastacia
The woman in the picture with the iron muzzle is called Escrava Anastacia, an enslaved African woman who lived in Brazil in the 19th century.
“ I had seen a black woman slave as I came through the house, who was cooking the dinner and the poor creature was cruelly loaded with various iron machines; she had one particularly on her head which locked her mouth so fast that she can scarcely speak and could not eat or drink. I was most astonished and shocked by this contrivance which I learned afterwards was called the iron muzzle” – Jacques Etienne Victor Arago 1839 accounted.
Born with blue eyes Anastacia grew up to be extremely beautiful, with many admiring her including the white masters.
It was recorded that the white women were jealous of her and convinced Joaquin, her master to make her wear the slave mask. Joaquin raped Anastacia for refusing his advances and forced her to wear the iron mask for the rest of her life as a form of punishment. She only removed it once a day to eat.
The metal from the mask became poisonous and Anastacia died of tetanus.
Anastacia became a saint to many who recognize her as a symbol of love and forgiveness and also alleged to have had some magical healing powers. She was said to have forgiven her owners for the torture before her death.
There is a statue and place of worship in Vas Lobo, Rio, where people flock to worship her.
Renate Dzodzomenyo – African Post Online
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Renate is a lawyer, publicist, and writer. She believes that education and information is the key to developing and shaping Africa. In her free time, she paints beautiful art pieces on canvas. Renate believes that life is a perception, and you live it the way you perceive it.
