Growing up, I wasn’t taught a whole lot about Black history in school. It wasn’t until my 20s, when I moved to Sierra Leone, that I started to comprehend how much of our history I had been missing. Freetown in the 1990s was, in a way, the perfect place for me to learn about historical events that deeply affected the United States. Not long after my arrival, I learned the story of the Amistad Rebellion; the story of 53 Mende captives who, in 1839, were forcibly enslaved and illegally shipped to Cuba. After an endless, excruciating journey and being subject to severe mistreatment, the captives revolted, taking hold of the Amistad ship, where they were being transported. Without any navigation knowledge, the 53 depended on the remaining crew members to sail back to Sierra Leone but, in the hopes of being rescued, the crew members changed the route which led the ship to Eastern Long Island, New York, where a U.S. naval brig seized the unlawful vessel. The African captives were then jailed and sent to Connecticut to await trial. Following a lengthy legal battle, the case was heard at the U.S. Supreme Court, and the captives were set free. Unknowingly, they played a crucial role in galvanizing the abolitionist movement in the United States. For me, discovering this piece of history while living on another continent underscored the importance of recognition within our borders. History matters, and narratives like the Amistad Rebellion not only resonate globally but also contribute to fostering a culture of understanding and empathy worldwide. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM
This story was the basis of an opera that premiered in 1997. Not sure how accurate it is though. Still, artists have a role to play in helping us examine our history.
I grew up in Eastern Long Island (and the daughter of educators) so quite familiar with this part of our American history. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Thank you for telling that story. I didn't know that.
Am so glad you shared this. Thank you!
President and CEO | Organizational Transformation|International Development|Policy
7moRashid Sesay