Today I watched the Amistad film for the first time. We were asked to take notes and watch it with a critical eye and whilst I could now reel off a load of points on what I think was bad about its portrayal, what is hitting me the most is how privileged I am to be sailing it back home to Sierra Leone. Although I have previously studied various issues concerning transatlantic slavery I have never focused on the Amistad incident and  have only now really realized that it was not only an amazing story of freedom but it had such an affect on American politics at the time. As an English person whose detailed knowledge of the civil war is weak I found it especially interesting that Spielberg made such a direct connection between the Amistad law suit and the beginning of the civil war. How much truth is in this representation i am yet to learn. I found the film really moving and at parts very hard to watch, it really brought home why we are here as it is a story that everyone should know about and not forget. 

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