"return and get it"
the assistant who works with Buddy's vet in the East Village has this cool tattoo on her wrist. it's a West African Adrinka symbol called "Sankofa". she saw the symbol on Janet Jackson and liked it. but a fascinating thing happened the day we were in the office... she and the receptionist had just noticed the EXACT same symbol in the iron gates on the building DIRECTLY across the street from their office...

the receptionist said that she'd heard that African slaves incorporated tribal symbols in their work and it can be seen around the city (even as a legacy today in newer work).

looked around the net to learn more. not a lot out there but we found that many of the slaves who helped build New York were great artisans and came from the regions of Western Africa that used these symbols, and these areas/empires were specifically known for their metalwork.

the mystery was heightened, and at the same time possibly answered, with this message found in the Sankofa's meaning:
"return and get it" - symbol of importance of learning from the past

UPDATE: Black Lilly from I'm So Confused (a GREAT site you MUST check out right now!) sent a cool email thanking us for mentioning the Sankofa (she has the same one on her wrist!) she sent along some comments that provide additional food for thought...

"the one thing that annoys me about tattoos is that many people don't pay attention to the meaning of symbols. I have heard too many people describe theirs as tribal, but cant tell the meaning, what tribe they came from or even which continent."

and keep your eyes open... "You can find adinkra symbols everywhere, you just have to look."