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Written by Saphra Ross - Sankofa Student
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Thursday, 19 July 2007 |
It is 10 am and I’m on watch (7am-1pm). So far we sanded down the aft rail of the Amistad so that varnish doesn’t peel off as the lines rub against the wood. More sanding will continue. I also learnt quite a lot about sperm whales after a discussion with Captain about what they saw yesterday- I think its pretty amazing but I must admit, my view of the dolphins definitely topped it all.
As we have been sailing up the Gulf Stream I have been having thoughts and reflections about the 53 Mendi Africans aboard the Amistad in 1839. We are in the same Gulf Stream that they were in (even though in a different part), the actual captives that we are representing, on this voyage aboard this boat. I think about the wonderful weather we are getting at the moment and how it may not have been so wonderful and Sengbe and the others. Starved and out of fresh water scorching heat would only make matters worse, dehydration, along other diseases, causing deaths along the way. Here’s us with our sunscreen, caps and sunshades to protect us, but they had nothing of the sort. We have been sailing for 6 days so far out of 28(ish), but the captives sailed for a total of 63 days before reaching Long Island- a destination not even of their desire. I know I wouldn’t be happy if I ended up in Iceland instead of England!
So, I thought I would get all these thoughts out as this voyage helps me to think more deeply about why I am here and the importance of the Amistad story.
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