By Kai M. Perry.
On June 21, 2007 Freedom Schooner Amistad will embark on its first transatlantic voyage joining with international agencies and organizations in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Europe and West Africa in the recognition and commemoration of a most significant milestone: the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade in the former British Empire (1807) and the United States (1808).
The 14-month voyage will retrace the infamous slave industry triangle with stops at more than a dozen Atlantic ports that played a significant role in the trade and reflect today’s social, political and cultural character resulting from the African Diaspora engendered by the trade. At the mid-point of the voyage, Amistad will sail into the harbor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, the original West African homeland of many of the Amistad captives. This symbolic "homecoming" will be a capstone event during the tour and will involve churches, non-governmental organizations and the governments of Britain, the United States as well as the United Nations.
Throughout the tour, the crew and students onboard Amistad will transmit text, images and video from the schooner back to classrooms and participating museums throughout the country; the transmissions from the ship will be woven into an electronic educational offering developed with the help of museums located in ports-of-call along the route of the tour. The Bon Voyage Celebration will be held on June 21, 2007 in Downtown, New Haven, Connecticut. Events include an inter-denominational church service, a rally in front of the Sengbe Pieh statue at City Hall, a concert on the Green by the Coast Guard Band, a march to Long Wharf Pier from which Amistad will set sail and a traditional West African farewell ceremony.
Photo: Donald George of Amistad America Inc.
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