>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTYJ, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDER WRITERS.

>>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST.

WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST FOR TODAY´S PROGRAM.

HE IS DR. JUSTIN, AND HE´S AN ANTHROPOLOGIST.

HE´S DONE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDSS, ON THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN AND ST. CROIX.

WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING OUT A LOT ABOUT HIS WORK AND THE WORK THAT WILL INVOLVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE GUARD TO THE HISTORY, CULTURE AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

WELCOME.

I´M SO, SO HAPPY YOU´RE ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I´M GOOD.

I´M GOOD.

IT´S GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> IT´S ALWAYS AN AWKWARD QUESTION, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS FIELD?

>> DEFINITELY.

A WILL THE OF PEOPLE SAY IT STARTED WHEN THEY ARE WATCHING INDIANA JONES OR SOME TV SHOW BACK IN THE DAY.

I KNOW THERE´S A LOT OF VI ALUM.

I GOT INVOLVED IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND I REALIZED THE POTENTIAL THAT ARCHAEOLOGY HAD TO EXPLORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN DIASPORA HISTORY.

IT WAS A CONTINUED PROCESS OF GOING TO DO ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE CARIBBEAN AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF AFRICA, EASTERN WEST AFRICA AND COMING BACK TO THE CARIBBEAN AND COMING BACK.

>> WOW.

WHAT´S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY.

>> YEAH.

THERE´S CULTURE ANTHROPOLOGY WHICH STUDIES CULTURE.

THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BESIDE.

THERE´S ARCHAEOLOGY THAT STUDY THE MATERIAL THINGS PEOPLE HAVE MADE.

RESEARCHING THINGS PEOPLE HAVE MADE IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.

>> YOU´VE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THAT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PASSENGER SIDE -- INITIALLY A SURVEY MISSION WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND SOME MEMBERS OF A GROUP CALLED DINING WITH A PURPOSE.

FROM THERE WE SET UP A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND WE´VE BEEN DOING ARCHAEOLOGY SINCE 2017 AT THE ESTATE LITTLE PRINCESS IN ST. CROIX.

>> THE NATURE CONSERVANCY LOCATION, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

IT USED TO BE 18th CENTURY DANISH PLANTATION.

FROM OUR EXCAVATIONS WE FOUND THERE WAS LIKE A COMMUNITY THAT WAS THERE PRIOR TO THE PLANTATION.

>> OKAY.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DID YOU FIND THERE?

>> YEAH, PLANTATION ARCHAEOLOGY, I´VE BEEN DOING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND WE GENERALLY FIND A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE UNEVENTFUL.

WE FIND PIECES OF BROKEN CERAMICS.

PIECES OF GLASS, NAILS, SCRAP METAL.

SPECIFICALLY AT THE ESTATE LITTLE PRINCESS, WE FOUND EVIDENCE OF BEDROCK MODIFICATION.

SOMEBODY WAS CARVING OUT A LITTLE DIVETS IN BEDROCK AROUND THERE.

WE BELIEVE IN THE INDIGENOUS GROUPS WE´RE USING IT TO FIXED POST HOLES AND THE STRUCTURES AROUND THE LANDSCAPE.

>> OKAY.

ANOTHER PROJECT YOU WORK ON THAT I´VE DISCOVERED IS SLAVE WRECKS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UPON IS THERE´S ALWAYS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT LOOKING FOR PRESSURE.

ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN SLADE PROJECT.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THAT PROJECT?

BASED OUT HERE IN D.C.

THEY FORMED OVER A DECADE AGO WITH THE INTENT OF EXPLOING FOR, LOOKING FOR SLAVE SHIP WRECKS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE KNOW THERE´S THOUSANDS OF VOYAGES INVOLVED IN THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE.

LESS THAN 10 HAVE BEEN LOCATED.

PART OF THE PROJECT IS ATTEMPT THROE INDICATE AND INTERPRET SOME OF THOSE WRECKS.

THEY DONE FANTASTIC WORK IN SOUTH AFRICA LOCATING THE WRECK.

THEY ARE DOING WORK IN MOZAMBIQUE AND SENAGAL AS WELL.

MEMBERS OF DIVING WITH A PURPOSE IS A GROUP COMPROMISED OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL SCUBA DIVERS.

THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE TO GET MORE SCUBA TRAINING.

ST. CROIX WAS SELECTED AS A PLACE TO DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM.

>> TELL ME WHAT KIND OF RESPONSES YOU HAVE RECEIVED.

>> I FIRST CAME DOWN WHEN I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT.

BEING A GRADUATE STUDENT ON A TIGHT BUDGEBUDGET.

WE DIDN´T HAVE MONEY FOR HOTELS AND PEOPLE LITERALLY OPENED UP THEIR HOMES TO US.

WITH PARTNERSHIPS, THE PROJECTS REALLY EXPAND AND UNIQUE IN INTERESTING WAYS.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS CARIBBEAN CULTURE CENTER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AS WELL.

WHAT WE HAVE DN DOING IS ABOUT FOUR WEEKS OF ARCHAEOLOGY DOWN THERE AT THE ESTATE LITTLE PRINCESS EVERY SUMMER.

WITH COVID, WE WEREN´T ABLE TO G DOWN LAST SUMMER OR THIS SUMMER.

WE HOPE NEXT SUMMER WE CAN CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.

WE ALSO HAVE GRANT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

I´M PROFESSOR AT UCLA, WE PROVIDE STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AN UNIVERSITIES A FULLY FUNDED OPPORTUNITY TO DO ARCHAEOLOGY WITH US.

WE HAVE BEEN GETTING APPLICATIONS FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS SPELLMAN AND MOREHOUSE AND OTHERS.

WE HOPE TO BRING MORE STUDENTS DOWN THERE AND LINK UP WITH STUDENTS FROM CARIBBEAN CULTURE.

>> THAT´S GREAT.

THERE´S ALSO CONVERSATION ABOUT INVOLVING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHAT HAVE YOU HAD THEM DO?

I DON´T KNOW WHETHER THEY CAN DIVE AT THAT AGE, CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

THEY CAN.

THAT´S THE INTERESTING COMPONENT OF IT.

THANKFULLY ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE COMMUNITY ARE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PULLING THAT OFF.

YUN ESCIENCETISTS IN THE SEA HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL.

SOME OF THEM WORK FOR LOCAL DIVE SHOPS NOW.

SHE STARTED A NON-PROFIT CALLED ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH SPECIFICALLY TARGETS K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND SHE HAS THEM LEARNING WHAT THE DIFFERENT MARKS ARE ON HISTORIC BOTTLES AND CERAMICS.

THEY COME OUT TO FIELD FOR US AND ANALYZE THE STUFF WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> THAT´S EXCELLENT.

HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE A YOUNG PERSON WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK?

WHAT DO THEY NEED FOCUS ON?

>> PURSUE YOUR INTERESTS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

I LOVE HISTORY.

I LEARN MORE BY TALKING TO ELDERS.

THAT´S ONE WAY TO PURSUE IT.

THE OTHER THING IS TO REALIZE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN BE INVOLVED.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME AND MAYBE IT´S A WEAK EXCUSE BUT THAT´S THE REASON WHY SOME PERSONS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER IS BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE.

I KNOW IF THERE´S ANY CREDENCE TO THAT.

IT´S IN MY HEAD.

IF WATER IS TALLER THAN ME, I HAVE A PROBLEM.

I THINK IT´S AWESOME WHAT YOU AND YOUR GROUP IS DOING.

YOU DID A PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE IT WAS FOR THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE WHERE YOU SHOWED A TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE DATABASE.

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

THE AMOUNT OF DATA AND RESEARCH OUT THERE IS ASTONISHING.

THERE´S MANY DIFFERENT WAIVES IT CAN BE USED AND NEEDS TO BE USED TO FURTHER EXPLORE HISTORY.

THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE DATABASE WAS DEVELOPED BY A NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS INTERNATIONALLY AND THEY LITERALLY COLLECTED NEARLY EVERY WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT DOCUMENTED A SHIP GOING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

THAT DATABASE HAD RECORDS OF OVER 12 MILLION PEOPLE AND THOUSANDS OF SHIPS AND YOU CAN GO IN AND SEARCH INDIVIDUAL SHIP, THE NAMES OF THE SHIPS, THE CAPTAINS, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD, ALL THOSE DETAILS AND EXPANDED MORE RECENTLY FOR AN INTRA-AMERICAN SLAVE TRADE DATABASE AS WELL.

WE´RE REALLY EXPANDING WHAT WE KNOW OF THE SLAVE TRADE AND THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS INVOLVED.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK?

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU SEE?

>> THERE´S SO MANY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE EXPLORING THEIR OWN HISTORY IS MONUMENTAL AND CHANGING IN AND OF ITSELF.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP AND YOUR PARENTS TELL YOU BY AGE 12 YOU´RE SUPPOSED TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, YOU START TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE, THE HISTORY THAT´S THERE AND THE LIFT OF THE ANCESTORS AND YOU GET A SENSE OF TO MOVE FORWARD.

THERE´S A NUMBER OF OTHER ANGLES AS WELL.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT REPARATIONS.

I THINK THE REPARATIONS DEBATE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE DON´T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH WE´RE OWED AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

PART OF MY WORK IS LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

I THINK ANY PLAN THAT DOESN´T INVOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION WON´T SUFFICE.

ALL OF THESE NEED TO BE EXPLORED.

>> AN INFORMED CONVERSATION?

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU DID MENTION THERE WAS A LINK BETWEEN ECOLOGY AND THE WORK YOU´RE DOING, DIVERING WITH A PURPOSE.

GET A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR HOW EVERYTHING INTERSECTS.

WHAT´S THE CONNECTION?

>> YEAH.

IT´S REALLY WORKING IN ST. CROIX WITH PEOPLE LIKE KIM THAT OPENED MY EYES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGY TODAY.

ONE OF THINGS WE´RE TRYING TO DO IS THE WORK THAT WE DO IS WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NATURAL HERITAGE ARE NOT SEPARATE BUT THEY WORK TOGETHER.

IF WE´RE GOING TO BE ARCHAEOLOGISTS DIGGING OUT OF THE GROUND, WE ALSO NEED TO ISSUES.

IF WE SEE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WE NEED TO BEGIN TO THINK WHAT WE CAN DO TO OFFER SOME SORT OF REMEDY TO THAT.

THESE LINES OF WHAT IS A MARINE SCIENTIST, ARCHAEOLOGIST VERSUS A HISTORIAN BECAUSE ALL OF US WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE WORLD WE WANT TO SEE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE CORAL SITUATION.

YOU DID IN YOUR TALK -- TELL US A BIT ABOUT THAT, PLEASE.

>> THE ARGUMENT IS THAT MULTA WHO DID OWN ST. CROIX CAUSED THIS BACK AREA.

IT´S INTERESTING.

ST. CROIX DOESN´T HAVE A LOT OF GOOD STONE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD FORCE THE SOUTH AFRICANS TO GO OUT TO THE COASTLINE AND DIG UP CORAL FROM THE OCEAN.

THEY WOULD THEN DRY THAT OUT, CUT IT OUT AND USE IT TO BUILD HISTORIC BUILDINGS AROUND THE ISLAND.

IF YOU LOOK THROUGHOUT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YOU´LL SEE A LOT OF OLD HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE YELLOW BRICK, SOME CASES THEY ARE RED BRICK WHICH ADVISER TO BE FRENCH AND THEN YOU HAVE CORAL THAT´S MIXED IN IN BETWEEN THAT.

PROBABLY THE WORK WE´RE TRYING TO DO NOW IS UNDERSTAND WHICH SPECIES OF CORAL HAVE BEEN USED.

WHAT EXIST IN AND AROUND THE ISLANDS AND HAVE THOSE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE SUCCESSIVE MINING THAT OCCURRED.

>> THAT CORAL IS PRETTY SHARP.

>> IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK.

INDIVIDUALS WERE REQUIRED TO DIVE DOWN TO FREE DIVERS TODAY STRUGGLE TO GET DOWN WITH.

THERE´S ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE BLOWING OUT THEIR EARDRUMS SO THEY DIDN´T HAVE TO EQUALIZE EVER TIME THEY WENT DOWN.

IT WAS VERY TAXING AND LABOR INTENSIVE ON THE BODY.

>> YOU´VE DONE WORK ON THE ISLAND OF ST. JOHN, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> WE´RE JUST IN ST. JOHN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS AGO NOW.

WE GOT REPORT OF A SHIP WRECK BELIEVED TO BE 18th CENTURY SHIP WRECK DOWN THERE.

THERE´S A POSSIBILITY FOR US TO EXPLORE AND THEN I HAVE A PHD STUDENT WHO WAS INTERESTED IN DOING A THESIS ON A SHIP WRECK AS WELL.

THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH DOING UNDER WATER ARCHAEOLOGY IS IT´S VERY EXPENSIVE.

I HAD JUST SO HAPPEN TO GET AN AWARD FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RECENTLY.

I MADE A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS.

I SAID WHO WANTS A FREE TRIP TO ST. JOHN TO DO SOME MAPPING.

WE LOCATED THAT SHIP BUT THEN ALSO JUST THROUGH TALKING WITH PEOPLE LOCALLY, THEY WILL TELL YOU THERE´S A SHIP HERE, THERE´S A SHIP THERE.

THERE´S ALL THESE OTHER PIECES OF HISTORY THAT HAVEN´T BEEN EXPLORED BECAUSE THEY DON´T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

IT USED TO BE, THE UNITED STATES IS JUST NOW STARTING TO SURVEY ALL OF THE WATER IN AND AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

WE DON´T EVEN FULLY KNOW HOW MANY SHIP WRECKS THERE ARE IN THE U.S.

YET ALONE U.S.

TERRITORIES.

WHAT WE´RE TRYING TO DO IS TO BEGIN TO DO MORE OF THAT WORK AND SEE IF WE CAN LOCATE MORE THAT EXIST UNDER THE WATER.

>> WHY IS THAT THE CASE ABOUT THE SURVEYS?

>> YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THE COST OF IT AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT DIDN´T EXIST BEFORE THAT ARE NOW STARTING TO EXIST.

IF YOU´RE A RECREATIONAL SCUBA DIVER AND YOU WANT TO RENT A BOAT FOR A DAY, THAT CAN COST YOU UP TO $2,000 A DAY.

YOU HAVE TO DO A FIVE DAY TRIP, THAT´S $10,000 ON A BOAT ALONE.

IT´S VERY EXPENSIVE, VERY QUICKLY.

>> YOU CAN´T BE UNDER WATER FOR VERY LONG EITHER, CAN YOU?

>> RIGHT.

WE´RE LOOKING AT MAX AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.

YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT USUALLY TWO TIMES DAY.

WE HAVE PRETTY SHORT DAYS.

IT´S A LOT OF WORK.

>> EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS.

THE LIMIT OF BEING UNDER WATER.

>> WHEN WE´RE UNDER WATER, WE´RE BREATHING OUT OF TANKS OF AIR ON OUR BACK.

THOSE TANKS ONLY GET SO BIG AND THEY GET VERY HEAVY.

WE ONLY HAVE, USUALLY IN SHALLOWER WATER WE HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF WITH A TANK OF AIR.

IN DEEPER WATER IT GOES DOWN TO 30 MINUTE, SOMETIMES 15 MINUTES.

WE HAVE TO GET A LOT OF WORK DONE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> HOW DEEP HAVE YOU HAD TO GO DOWN FOR SOME OF THESE WRECKS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

WE´LL LIMIT YOU THERE.

WE WON´T TAKE YOU TOO FAR OUT.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF THESE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY SHALLOW.

WE´RE LOOKING AT MAYBE 20 FEET OR 30 FEET.

>> OKAY.

>> A LOT OF THESE WRECKS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SHIPS HIT A REEF.

THEY WENT INTO SHALLOW WATER.

THEY WERE DRIVEN INTO IT.

THAT´S WHY THEY END I CRASHING.

THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WHERE WRECKS ARE MUCH, MUCH DEEPER.

I CAN´T BEGIN TO THINK OFF THE COAST OF ST. CROIX THERE´S THE SHELF.

IT GOES FROM 100 FEET DOWN TO 3,000 FEET.

I CAN´T BEGIN TO THINK WHAT´S DOWN 3,000 FEET.

>> RIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THE ROLE OF PIRATES.

I THINK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE ROMANTICIZED NOTION OF PIRATES BEING DASHING FIGURES BUT THEY ARE UNSAVORY ROLES WITH REGARD TO SLAVE TRADE.

YOU POINTED OUT A CHARACTER FROM THE FILM, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY ARE SEEN AS BENEVOLENT OR NICE, PASSIVE INDIVIDUALS BUT LOOK IN THE HISTORY OF PIRATE, WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE CAPTAIN MORGAN.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT PIRATES FROM ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN THAT WERE ENGAGED IN THE SLAVE TRADE.

A LOT OF THESE PIRATES WERE PIRATES BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOTING SLAVE SHIPS OR LOOTING OVER EUROPEAN SHIPS INVOLVED IN TRADE.

MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY ENDED UP CONSOLIDATED THEIR WEALTH BY BUYING PLANTATIONS ON THESE ISLANDS AND HAVING THE SLAVE PEOPLE WORK FOR THEM.

CAPTAIN MORGAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WE KNOW FROM THE POPULAR DRINK, HENRY MAR GONE -- MORGAN WAS A SLAVE OWNER.

WE DON´T THINK ABOUT PIRATES AS PLANTATION OWNERS BUT THERE´S A VERY CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> WOW.

WOW.

I´M NOT SURE -- ONE OF THE HISTORICAL OF PANAMA IN THIS HENRY MORGAN, DR. MORGAN, THERE´S A CHURCH, A GOLDEN CHUJ -- CHURCH IN PANAMA.

I´M TOLD THEY PAINTED THE ALTAR BLACK.

IT´S STILL THERE.

WHETHER HISTORY IS ACCURATE OR NOT BUT PEOPLE WERE QUITE WARE OF HIS REPUTATION AS BEING THE PERSON WHO LUST FOR WEALTH IN UNSAVORY WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> TELL US ABOUT GROUP DIVING WITH A PURPOSE.

>> IT´S A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY A NUMBER OF WHAT WERE THEN RECREATIONAL SUE BAA DIVERS.

THAT PARTNERED UP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

IT WAS PERSON LOOKING FOR A SLAVE TRIP CALLED THE GUERRO IN FLORIDA.

SHE SAID IF YOU´RE WILLING TO BE TRAINED AND COME DOWN HERE AND VOLUNTEER, I´LL TRAIN YOU ON HOW TO LOOK FOR SHIP WRECKS.

WE´LL LOOK FOR THIS WRECK TOGETHER.

THEY SAID ARE YOU TIRED OF THE SAME OLD DIVING.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIVE WITH A PURPOSE?

A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SIGNED ON.

THAT´S HOW DIVING WITH A PURPOSE WAS FORMED.

I JUST CAME FROM MICHIGAN LAST WEEK.

IN 2015, DIVERING WITH A PURPOSE HELPED TO MAP A TUSKEGEE PLANE WRECK IN MICHIGAN.

THEY JUST INSTALLED A MEMORIAL TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

IT WAS VERY POWERFUL MOMENT FOR MANY OF THEM.

>> WHAT WAS THE HISTORY BEHIND THAT.

YOU DON´T THINK OF PLANE WRECKS IN MICHIGAN.TRAINING IN TUS -- TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA.

>> HERE´S A QUESTION.

WHAT DON´T YOU DO?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I JUST STARTED SURFING.

I´M TRYING TO PICK THAT UP.

>> OKAY.

OKAY.

YOU´RE ON THE WEST COAST NOW.

BEFORE YOU WERE AFFILIATED WITH VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.

>> CORRECT.

I´M NOW AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT UCLA.

I´LL BE DEVELOPING MORE O PROJECTS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

REALLY.

HOW CAN WE INSTILL IN YOUNG PEOPLE THE EXCITEMENT THAT YOU CLEARLY GENERATE IN YOUR PROFESSION.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN LEAVE US WITH?

>> I SAY I HAVE ONE OF THE BEST JOBS IN WORLD.

I GET TO EXPLORE ON OTHER PEOPLE´S DIME.

I´M CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE.

I GET TO PICK MY OWN PROJECTS AND PICK THE LOCATIONS.

FOR ME THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND IT IS ONE THAT THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE BUT THEN TWO IS THE NEED THAT´S OUT THERE.

WE HAVE COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST LOOKING FOR ARCHAEOLOGIST, SCIENTISTS, LIS -- HISTORIANS TO COME VALIDATE MORE WORK.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND EXPLORE.

IF YOU CAN, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO OTHER PLACES.

IT COULD BE ON A BOAT DO A NEARBY ISLAND.

THERE´S SO MUCH THAT WE STILL DON´T KNOW.

>> WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD INITIAL SOURCE?

A MUSEUM, LIBRARY.

IS THERE LIKE, IN THE OLD DAYS YOU HAVE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA.

WHERE WOULD YOU START?

>> I LIKE TO GET HANDS ON.

EMANCIPATION DAY, JULY 3rd.

ATTEND THAT.

IT´S A LONG WALK.

YOU PHYSICALLY GET TO WALK THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM TO WALK 14 MILES FROM FORT TO FORT WITH TORCHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE TRYING TO GET THEIR FREEDOM.

THAT KIND OF OPENS YOUR EYES UP TO MANY OF THE POSSIBILITIES AND TALKING TO ELDERS IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT AS WELL.

>> I AGREE.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT FUTURE PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS?

>> YEAH.

THERE´S A LOT OF FUTURE PLANS.

WE´RE DEFINITELY TRYING TO EXPAND ONTO OTHER PLANTATIONS TO GET DEEPER INTO THE HISTORY.

ONE OF MY OWN PERSONAL PROJECTS NOW IS THAT I´M TRYING TO GATHER UP A TEAM AND POTENTIALLY LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL SHIP WRECKS OUTSIDE OF THE V.I.

BUT BRINGING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED AT THE V.I.

WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE BE STEWARDS FOR TRAINING OTHERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I TELL PEOPLE MY GOAL IS TO BECOME IRRELEVANT SO WE SET UP A SYSTEM SO THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED ARE THE ONES TRAINING.

THAT´S THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR ME.

>> THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.

THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR WISDOM, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, YOUR INNOVATION.

I THINK WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT AN INFORMED DISCUSSION OR INFORMERED DEBATE ABOUT REPARATIONS.

THAT REALLY MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

>> YEAH.

>> FOLKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.

YOU´VE BEEN LISTENING TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

♫♫