February 6, 2008

Dear Samuel S. S. Sesay and students of Government Model Senior Secondary School,

We are writing to you from our eighth grade classroom at Worthington Hooker School in New Haven, Connecticut.  We have been studying the Amistad Revolt.  We also read the Samuel S. S. Sesay’s winning essay!  Here is what some of the students had to say about the importance of this historical incident, their lives in New Haven, Connecticut, and some questions they have for you:

          “As an African American the opportunity to learn about the hardships of slavery is something I take full advantage of.  The Amistad men, women and children seem to symbolize the strength and pride our race has.  For a group of black people to gain their freedom in a court of law back then was unheard of.  Actually blacks still get the worse treatment in the judicial system.  Their case was the stepping stone to other lawsuits for freedom such as the case of Dred Scott.  Some abolitionists began to open schools for free Africans.  The Amistad case helped many slaves in the long run by convincing them to fight for freedom.”  - Michael J.

          “When the Africans revolted on the Amistad, they kept Montez and Ruiz alive to navigate the ship back to Africa.  However, at night the sailors would steer the ship back towards Cuba, all the while moving northward.  This is how they ended up in New Haven, Connecticut, my home town.  They were locked up in a county jail in New Haven, where they awaited trial, since they’d been accused of murder and piracy.   This historic moment in time is so intriguing to me because it took place in the very city I live in today.  Sengbe Pieh, a great leader and courageous man, walked on the same ground as I do. 

          There is an Amistad Memorial at the New Haven Green, and every time I look at it I remember my personal connection with this major breakthrough of abolishing slavery in America.  I am very proud to be a civilian in a city where Sengbe and the other Africans were set free.

In my own personal life, I spend a lot of time playing soccer, or football, as you probably know it.  I am very fortunate to have nice fields to play on and a team to play with.  Do you play soccer/football?  When I am not playing soccer I enjoy reading and playing ping-pong which is also called table tennis.  Do you know of ping-pong?  I have a ping-pong table in my basement where I play daily with my sister.  I also own a dog, whom I walk every day after school.  Do you have any pets or animals you take care of?  I would one day like to visit Africa, maybe even Sierra Leone.  From the slide show and words of Ms. Perry, it seems that life where you live is very different from mine in New Haven.  However, the Amistad revolt connects us very strongly.”  - Charlotte B.

          “The Amistad incident is important for various reasons.  The rebellious actions of the people were admirable and inspiring.  Risking your life to stand up for what you believe in requires strong leadership skills, and bravery.  To me the Amistad incident was important because it has taught me to stand up for what I believe is right.  I know my situations aren’t comparable to those of the Amistad but I can still be a leader, just like in the Amistad incident.”  - Tiffany G.

          “I feel like the Amistad incident is really important to history and should be taught in school just as much as the stories of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.  To hear of African slaves revolting and trying to gain back control of their lives is empowering.  It is a story that evokes perseverance and passion.  This is also a story that proves the heart and intelligence of Africans everywhere.

          Life here is rather different from yours from what I have been told.  We do not have to pay for school and have organized classrooms.  It was quite upsetting to hear that you have to pay for an education.  It is differences like these that make me sad.  Here clean water, a place to stay, and food are pretty much guaranteed and there I learned that for some people it is hard to have one meal a day for a family.  Although I am blessed with necessities, I admire your people for going on and fighting every day.”   - Brianna B.

    “I’m privileged to be able to live in such a fair and modern country as the United States.  Despite our good fortune, many people just take it for granted.  There are some differences between schools here and in Sierra Leone, I’ve realized.  The classrooms are composed of at most twenty children in our school.  Each classroom is also decorated and adorned with student work, maps, posters, and such.  The most shocking difference for me is that most students here dread going to school and find it a waste of their time, while in Sierra Leone it is considered a privilege to be a student.”   -Xuan D.

    “I saw pictures of your school in a slide show.  It was much different from the schools in America.  I wondered if you learned less because of the lack of school materials.  We were also shown a picture of your family aboard the Amistad.  You have a very big family.  Do you like having a big family or not?  I have many siblings and there are good and bad things about it.  – Isha N.

    “Is it hard learning in Africa?  What is the learning environment like?  How long is your school day?  What do you usually do after school?  What kind of food do you eat?  Is it the same thing every day?  How big is your house?  Do you walk or drive to school?  Do you like it where you live?”   -Lana B.

 Samuel and students of Government Model Secondary School, we really hope that you can understand our words and write back to us.  We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about your life.

Yours Truly,

Grade 8 Students

Worthington Hooker Middle School

804 State Street

New Haven, CT 06511