Final answer:
The narrator discusses slavery to emphasize its historical and symbolic importance in relation to the sea, how it was perceived through the lens of the Middle Passage, and the African spiritual association of water as a sacred divide, which has become a part of collective African American memory and identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The narrator brings up slavery to highlight the historical and emotional significance of the sea to black people, particularly in reference to the experiences of their enslaved ancestors during the Middle Passage. This harrowing journey stands as both a physical and a symbolic divide—a gateway through which countless Africans were detached from their homeland and subjected to the dehumanizing conditions of slavery. The sea, for many descendants of those who survived the Middle Passage, represents a place of mourning and loss, and yet also serves as a historical reference point underlining their ancestors' strength and endurance.
Connecting to the African perception of water, it can be seen as a sacred entity that stands at the intersection between the living world and the realm of the dead. This perception is rooted in Indigenous religious culture, where bodies of water were often seen as the divide between these two realms. However, through the lens of slavery, and particularly through traumatic events like the Middle Passage, the water also became associated with suffering, loss, and the tearing apart of families.
The water reference is multilayered, acting as both a geographical and a metaphorical barrier. As African Americans sought to reclaim their history and heritage, the sea took on additional meaning as a symbol of the transatlantic slave trade's legacy and the resilience of those who survived its tragedies. By bringing up slavery and the complex relationship with the sea, one can infer a deeper commentary on African American identity and memory.