Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados has announced that a memorial and museum will be built on the site of a burial ground for approximately 570 enslaved Africans in Barbados, It will be part of the new Barbados Heritage District, which will also include a global research institute and be located at the Newton Plantation, which was established in the 1660s in the parish of Christ Church. Mottley’s announcement was made after Barbados celebrated its new status as a republic last week. The Transatlantic Slave Trade is a part of history that has shaped and affected us all. Here in the United States, schools are currently caught up in attempts by right-wing forces to shove the ugly history of enslavement and its systemic effects that persist today back under the rug. It is important that we understand how that trade and its role in building the British Empire, especially in the Caribbean, are entwined with our own stories. Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean. Read more