Original article from 1998 - Courtesy of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven, Connecticut

 

The concept for a reproduction of La Amistad emerged during Operation Sail ‘76, that spectacular parade of the world’s tall sailing vessels up the Hudson River. Participating in that event was a representation of the historical vessel La Amistad. In actuality, it was the old Western Union, with her name temporarily hidden under signs proclaiming “Amistad.”

While I was editor of the NAACP’s Crisis magazine, Michael Clement, who was associated with the OpSail office, came to complain that no ship in the parade gave testimony to the considerable participation of African-Americans in United States maritime history. Nor was there a ship, other than the Coast Guard’s Eagle, to exemplify the glorious maritime history of the United States itself. Why not find a schooner and enter her as La Amistad, he asked. After considerable searching, we found a suitable ship, raised necessary chartering money and shared the thrill of sailing in the parade. During the ride, the dream of an Amistad re-creation began to take shape.

It was years later, however, after my retirement that the dream began to become real. Donald E. Harewood, an associate on the national staff of the NAACP, readily embraced the concept and joined the effort. Before a proper structure could be established, we felt that a full program had to be developed. What purpose would the vessel serve? What would be the nature of the organization seeking its eventual construction? As stated

in the corporate documents of the new Amistad Affiliates Inc., its charge would be to:

 

(1) build a replica of the 1839 Baltimore schooner La Amistad;

(2) fit her as a floating exhibit;

(3) engage a crew; and

(4) sail her from port to port, teaching “minority history”

 

Early in 1992, Amistad Affiliates began an extensive networking effort to garner interest and support for the shipbuilding project. Dr. Clifton H. Johnson, founder and executive director of the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans (which I had helped to create), introduced me to Evan Wilson, a historian and writer. Wilson commended Affiliates for having developed a plan for the use of a new Amistad before seeking to build it. Too often, he said, people build replicas and then try to determine what to do with them. Later, Mr. Wilson, built a scale model of the Amistad, which I frequently use when I speak to groups.

 

Networking took on a life of its own because so many people in Connecticut are familiar with and proud of the fact that the Amistad Incident took place here. Among the first acquaintances was Alfred Marder, president of the Amistad Committee Inc., of New Haven, who had commissioned for that city a major statue of Sengbe Pieh, leader of La Amistad Africans, who was called “Cinque” by his captors. Mr. Marder arranged meetings with a number of key people, including Robert Egleston, director of the New Haven Colony Historical Society; Representative William Dyson, State Appropriations Committee; and Khalid Lum, president of the Connecticut Afro-American Historical Society.

 

Then I made contact with Chris Cox, Vice President for Development and Communications at Mystic Seaport, and the project took off. Governor Lowell Weicker soon announced a state grant of $2.5 million for Amistad to be built by Mystic Seaport.

 

When the construction of Amistad is complete, there are other aspects of the overall project that must be accomplished -- and they will require money that the State will not provide. AMISTAD America is now raising the funds to endow educational programming and operate the ship on an annual basis. The dream continues.

 

Courtesy of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven, Connecticut

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