The year-long, 14,000-mile international tour of Amistad America's Freedom Schooner, marking the bicentennial of the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade in the former British Empire (1807) and the United States (1808), demonstrates the international significance of a story that unfolded here in Connecticut 170 years ago. The ship's return will be marked by celebration and public discourse aimed at deepening our understanding of the Amistad story, its legacy in American life and world history, and the longer, larger struggle that is America's Journey of Freedom.

MORNING - Long Wharf, Amistad Dock - New Haven

9:30-11:30 Morning Homecoming Ceremony &  Events

 

• Choir from Immanuel Baptist Church Welcoming New Haven Museum & Immanuel Baptist Church
• Sounding of the horn (Digareedo)
• Drumming/dancing begins - Michael Mills
• Libation, with Donald George
• Ship arrival - 10:00 am - solo Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Baptist choir
• Officials welcome of the ship by Mayor DeStefano, Sen. Toni Harp
• Speaker # 1  Clifton Graves  thanks, introduce crew, staff, trustees and statewide stakeholders (New Haven Museum, Amistad Committee, CT Historical   Society,  New London Custom House, Mystic Seaport, etc.)
• Poet - Speaker # 2 - Ngoma
• Historian - Speaker # 3  Unity Now: America's Journey of Freedom, by New Haven Museum Director William Hosley
• Immanuel Baptist Church /solo (Michael Acosta)  (Old Man River and/or Saving Grace)

 

AFTERNOON - Long Wharf, Amistad Dock - New Haven

12:00-4:00 pm Freedom Schooner open for tours

 

LATE AFTERNOON - New Haven Museum - 114 Whitney Avenue

4:30-6:00 pm - Reception & Panel Discussion, Music & Film

 

• “Rethinking the Meaning of Amistad: Conversation Marking the Freedom Schooner's Homecoming & World Voyage” - In honor of the late Clifton Johnson

Confirmed Panelists: David Blight, Yale University; Kate Steinway, CT Historical Society; Karyl Evans, Amistad filmmaker; Greg Belanger, Amistad America; Rev. John Scott, Dixwell Avenue Church of Christ; Barbara Hudson, Founding Curator, Amistad Foundation.

• “Traces Of The Trade” - short film presentation by filmmaker Katrina Browne
  
  

New Haven Symphony Orchestra  Preview of 2009 Amistad orchestral commission by George T. Walker, Natalie Forbes

Other Features:

• Research Resources for African-American History at the New Haven Museum
• PowerPoint Presentation - Exploring New Haven Museum
  
• Freedom Schooner Voyagers account and Travel Souvenirs on display
• Cinque Lives Here exhibition

Hor d'ouvres & Libations

 

Download a printer friendly Homecoming Leaflet and PROGRAM - Amistad America edition
(2 Pages, PDF File 345 Kb) 

 

 

Download a printer friendly  PROGRAM  - New Haven Museum edition
(1 Pages, PDF File 158 Kb)