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As part of Amistad's visit to Sierra Leone, the US Embassy organized a city-wide essay contest to increase students' understanding of the Amistad Incident of 1839. The three finalists were invited to a reception at the Embassy where they were recognized by the US Ambassador and presented with awards. The winner, Samuel S. S. Sesay, received a digital camera and VIP tour of the Amistad.
1st Place - Samuel S. S. Sesay
Government Model Senior Secondary School
2nd Place - Aminata Palmer
Apesc International School
3rd Place - Cedric William Leigh
Prince of Wales School
Samuel S. S. Sesay, Aminata Palmer, Cedric Leigh, Kai Perry (AMISTAD America Staff)
Why I Admire Those Who Revolted on the Amistad
by Samuel S. S. Sesay
The Amistad revolt was a result of a rebellion staged by slaves mostly from Sierra Leone, on board a ship known as La Amistad bound for the Caribbean Island. Despite the fact that some European nations had abolished slave trading in the early 19th century, some American states still indulged in the act.
Therefore among the captured slaves on the Amistad were people from the Mende, Temne, and Kissi ethnic tribes of Sierra Leone. Amongst them were people like Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque) and Kali. While the ship was on voyage from Cuba to Brazil, Sengbe Pieh and some of his cohorts broke loose their shackles, climbed on deck of the ship and rebelled against their captors. During that rebellion, they killed their master and, under duress, ordered the ship captain to take them back home – Africa.
But due to their lack of sea voyage, the captain steered the ship to the West Coast of the United States of America, where the rebels were charged for murder and hence put under custody. At this juncture, some anti-slave activists took up the case of the rebels and fought for legal counsel for them.
I personally admire the people (slaves) on board the Amistad for revolting against their captors for the following reasons: Firstly, Sengbe Pieh and his cohorts fought for their right of self freedom. This clearly shows that no man should be in bondage of another man. Also, or the simple fact that these Africans were stock illiterate, they however defended themselves in the white man’s Court of Law.
Furthermore, I admire Sengbe Pieh and his colleagues for the courage and bravery they displayed to even free themselves from bondage and also the display put out by them in the court of law in a foreign land amongst strangers. I also admire the rebels for their aptitude in learning a foreign language – both spoken and written English – in so short a period whilst in detention in the United States. All the above points clearly justify one’s admiration for the revolt on the Amistad.
Amy Challe, US Embassy of Sierra Leone; Cedric Leigh; Aminata Palmer; Danna Van Brandt, US Embassy of Sierra Leone; Samuel S. S. Sesay
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