African American Hero of the Day
Who led the rebellion on the slave ship Amistad in 1839?
- He was a native speaker of Mende, the language of Siera Leone.
- He was purchased by Spaniards in Havana, Cuba.
- He gained the support of missionaries and future president John Quincy Adams, who helped defend him in U.S. court.
- He became known as an excellent public speaker.
Joseph Cinqué (c. 1814-1849)
Slave
Purchased by Spaniards in Havana, Cuba, in 1839, he was placed aboard the Amistad bound for Puerto Principe. When the crew became exhausted from battling a storm, Cinqué led the slaves in seizing the ship and killing all but two of the crew, who were kept alive to navigate a course back to Africa. The captive pilots headed north, against the slaves' knowledge, and when the ship was sighted off the coast of Long Island the slaves were taken to Connecticut and placed in prison. Abolitionists took up the cause of the men and enabled Cinqué to raise funds for judicial appeals by speaking on their lecture circuit; his words were translated from Mende, and he became known as an excellent speaker. In 1841 attorney and future president John Quincy Adams won the slaves' case, and they were released. Missionaries and other supporters raised funds so that Cinqué and the remaining Africans were returned to West Africa.
From African American Almanac: 400 Years of Triumph, Courage and Excellence by Lean'tin Bracks, (c) 2012 Visible Ink Press(R). A wealth of milestones, inspiration, and challenges met . . .
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