“Queen of Soul”

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respect. That word became very important to black people in the 1960′s. Aretha Franklin, the singer who sang about it,earned the respect of everyone who heard her.

Beautiful black voices were always part of Aretha’s life. Her father was a well-known preacher. Famous black singers like Dinah Washington, Mahalia Jackson, and B. B. King often visited her home. Music was important part of Aretha’s life, too.

When Aretha was 12, she made her first record. By the time she graduated from high school, she knew that she wanted to be a professional singer. At first, she sang only gospel songs. But later she began to sing popular music. Soon, everyone was singing her songs and everyone knew who she was. In 1967, she recorded a number of chart-topping songs. Aretha Franklin became known as the “Queen of Soul.” Ever since then, she has been one of the best known singers in the United States.

“Chain of Fools” and “Never Loved a Man” are just two of Aretha’s popular songs.

“A Gift for Words”

On Tuesday, August 27, 1963, as thousands of people were planning to march on Washington, D. C., W. E. B. DuBois died. Some people cried when they heard the news. The great black leader, who had been living in Ghana, West Africa, would be missed.

William was a talented man who was respected throughout the world. He was a a scholar, writer, sociologist, philosopher, and leader.

William spent his entire life working for justice and equal rights for black people. He helped organize the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. This great civil rights organization has lead the fight for black equality for over 75 years. William worked as editor of “Crisis,” the NAACP magazine. He wrote more than 20 books. “Souls of Black Folks” is the best known.

Many people have been involved in the struggle to make a better America. But no one was more outspoken than William. He supported the fight for black rights in Africa and throughout the world, and he was a leader of the peace movement. Not everyone accepted his ideas. He was attacked by those who disagreed with him. After years of struggle, he moved to Ghana.

On August 28, the historic March on Washington was held. The man with “a gift for words” would have been proud.

“A Trumpet for Freedom”

As the tall, bearded black man spoke, you could hear a pin drop. When he finished his moving speech, not a dry eye could be found in the entire hall. Many people were troubled to hear about the cruel conditions of slavery. They knew it was bad, but they did not know how often slaves were whipped and killed. Many were surprised to find out that children were taken away from their parents and sold. Frederick Douglass, the greatest anti-slavery speaker of his time, detailed these cruelties and others. Through him, people “experienced” slavery.

Frederick was born a slave in Maryland. He escaped to New York when he was 21 years old. Like many other black people who were able to secure their freedom, he wanted to see his people free, too.

This self-educated man began to speak out against slavery. Frederick became such a well-known leader that he helped convince President Abraham Lincoln to accept black soldiers into the Union Army. His dynamic speeches attracted many followers in America and England.

In 1847, Frederick established the North Star newspaper. He was later named a United States marshall in Washington D. C., and in 1889 he was appointed America’s minister to Haiti.

People are still moved today when they read Frederick Douglass’s powerful speeches. He was truly “a trumpet for freedom.

“Founder of Chicago”

Chicago, Illinois, is the third largest city in the United States. But few people know it was founded by a black man, Jean DuSable.

Jean was born in Haiti, the world’s oldest black republic. He moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he became a fur trader. When the British took over St. Louis, Jean moved to Peoria, Illinois where Native Americans helped him establish a successful trading business.

Jean made many trips to Canada to bring back furs. He always passed a place called Eschikagov that he used as a lookout point. In 1774, he built a cabin there for his family. Other pioneers built stores and homes near his post. The settlement grew into a city that became Chicago.

Many years passed before Jean was credited with the founding of Chicago. In 1968, he was finally recognized as the man who founded one of the great cities of the world.

“Take the A Train”

Duke Ellington (born Edward Kennedy Ellington) was a great conductor and composer. His special style of music made him famous around the world. He created jazz songs and orchestra music that influenced many musicians and attracted millions of fans.

As a youngster, Duke showed talent as a pianist. He didn’t like to practice, but he did. His friends began to call him “Duke” because he liked to dress in fancy clothes.

Music became Duke’s full-time job when he was 18. He became the leader of his own band when he moved to New York City. He soon became a star.

Duke received many awards, and played for kings, queens, and presidents of the United States. He wrote over 1,000 songs and composed music for Broadway shows. He performed in nightclubs as well as concert halls in many countries.

“Take the A Train” and “Sophisticated Lady” are two of Duke Ellington’s most popular songs. The world has been made richer by the music created by the “Duke.”

“Pioneer of Black Dance”

Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. She used her many talents to make an important gift to the world.

When Katherine was a college student, she won a scholarship to study anthropology in Haiti. While she was there, she studied Haitian dances. Katherine was the first person to realize how important these dances were. She believed they could teach people many things about black history and culture. She knew they should be shared with the world.

When Katherine returned to the United States, she brought the dances with her. She formed a company of black dancers that became famous throughout the world. Katherine traveled to many nations and studied the dances of many cultures. She used the beautiful language of dance to teach people about themselves and others. Katherine is known as a pioneer of black dance. Many of the dances she created are still being performed today.

Fanny was born a slave, but an aunt bought her freedom for $125, and then sent her to school in Rhode Island. The thankful young girl never forgot her aunt’s generous help. She repaid her by helping others. Fanny became a teacher.

Fanny Coppin was one of the first black women in the Untied States to receive a college degree. After graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio, she was eager to teach. At first, she taught newly – freed slaves how to read and write. In 1865, she was hired to teach at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That school is now called Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Fanny became principal there in 1869.

Coppin State College, which is located in Baltimore, Maryland, is named in honor of this former slave who became a dedicated educator.

While this vessel was sounding this day between Gardner’s and Montauk Points, a schooner was seen lying in shore off Culloden Point, under circumstances so suspicious as to authorize Lt. Com. Gedney to stand in to see what was her character–seeing a number of people on the beach with carts and horses, and a boat passing to and fro a boat was armed and dispached with an officer to board her.
On coming along side a number of negroes were discovered on her deck, and twenty or thirty more were on the beach–two white men came forward and claimed the protection of the officer. The schooner proved to be the “Amistad,” Capt. Ramonflues, from the Havana bound to Guanaja, Port Principe, with 54 blacks and two passengers on board ; the former, four nights after they were out, rose and murdered the captain and three of the crew ; they then took possession of the vessel with the intention of returning to the coast of Africa. Pedro Montes, passenger, and Jose Rues owner of the slaves and part of the cargo, were only saved to navigate the vessel.
After boxing about for four days in the Bahama Channel the vessel was steered for the Island of St. Andrews, near New Providence ; from thence she went to Green Key, where the blacks laid in a supply of water. After leaving this place the vessel was steered by Pedro Montes for New Providence, the negroes being under the impression that she was steering for the coast of Africa–they would not, however, permit her to enter the port but anchored every night off the coast.
The situation of the two whites was all this time truly deplorable, being treated with the greatest severity, and Pedro Montes, who had charge of the navigation, was suffering from two severe wounds, one in the head and one in the arm, their lives threatened every instant. He was ordered to change the course again for the coast of Africa, the negroes themselves steering by the sun in the day time, while at night he would alter their course so as to bring them back to their original place of destination.–They remained three days off Long Island, to the Eastward of Providence, after which time they were two months on the ocean, sometimes steering to the Eastward, and whenever an occasson [sic] would permit the whites would alter the course to the Northward and Westward, always in hopes of falling in with some vessel of war, or being enabled to run into some port, when they would be relieved from their horrid situation.
Several times they were boarded by vessels ; once by an American schooner from Kingston. On these occasions the whites were ordered below, while the negroes communicated and traded with the vessel ; the schooner from Kingston supplied them with a demijohn of water, for the moderate sum of one doubloon–this schooner, whose name was not ascertained, finding that the negroes had plenty of money, remained lashed alongside the “Amistad” for twenty-four hours, though they must have been aware that all was not right on board, and probably suspected the character of the vessel–that was on the 18th of the present month ; the vessel was steered to the northward and westward, and on the 20th instant, distant from N.Y. 25 miles, the pilot boat No. 3 came alongside and gave the negroes some apples. She was also hailed by No. 4 ; when the latter boat came near, the negroes armed themselves and would not permit her to board them ; they were so exasperated with the two whites for bringing them so much out of their way that they expected every moment to be murdered.
On the 24th they made Montauk Light and steered for it in the hope of running the vessel ashore, but the tide drifted them up the bay and they anchored where they were found by the brig Washington, off Culloden point. The negroes were found in communication with shore, where they laid in a fresh supply of water, and were on the point of sailing again for the coast of Africa. They had a god supply of money with them, some of which it is likely was taken by the people on the beach.–After they were disarmed, and sent on board from the beach, the ringleader jumped overboard with three hundred doubloons about him, the property of the captain, all of which he succeeded in loosing from his person and then permitted himself to be captured. The schooner was taken in tow by the brig and carried into New London.

TUESDAY, 12 o’clock, M.
We have just returned from a visit to the Washington and her prize, which are riding at anchor in the bay, near the fort. On board the former we saw and conversed with the two Spanish gentlemen who were passengers on board the schooner, as well as owners of the negroes and most of the cargo.
One of them, Jose Rues, is very gentlemanly and intelligent young man, and speaks English fluently. He was the owner of most of the slaves and cargo, which he was conveying to his estate on the Island of Cuba.

he other, Pedro Montes, is about fifty years of age, and is the owner of three slaves. He was formerly a ship-master, and has navigated the vessel since her seizure by the blacks. Both of them, as may be naturally supposed are most unfeignedly thankful for their deliverance. Signor Pedro is the most striking instance of complacency and unalloyed delight we ever have seen, and it is not strange, since only yesterday his sentence was pronounced by the chief of the buccaniers, and his death song chanted by the grim crew, who gathered with uplifted sabres around his devoted head, which, as well as his arms, bear the scars of several wounds inflicted at the time of the murder of the ill-fated captain and crew.
He sat smoking his Havana on the deck, and, to junge [sic] from the martyr-like serenity of his countenance, his emotions are such as rarely stir the heart of man. When Mr. Porter, the prize-master, assured him of his safety, he threw his arms around his neck, while gushing tears coursing down his furrowed cheek, bespoke the overflowing transport of his soul Every now and then he clasps his hands, and with uplifted eyes gives thanks to “the Holy Virgin” who had led him out of all his troubles.
Senor Rues has given us two letters for his agents. Messrs, Shelton, Brothers & Co., of Boston, and Peter A. Harmony & Co., of New York. It appears that the slaves, the greater portion of whom were his, were very much attached to him, and had determined, after reaching the coast of Africa, to allow him to seek his home what way he could, while his poor companion was to be sacrificed.
On board the brig we also saw Cingues, the master-spirit and hero of this bloody tragedy, in irons. He is about five feet eight inches in height, 25 or 26 years of age, of erect figure, well built, and very active. He is said to be a match for any two men on board the schooner. His countenance, for a native African, is unusually intelligent, evincing uncommon decision and coolness, with a composure characteristic of true courage and nothing to mark him as a malicious man. He is a negro who would command, in New Orleans, under the hammer, at least $1,500.
He is said to have killed the captain and crew with his own hand, by cutting their throats. He also has several times attempted to take the life of Senor Montes, and the backs of several poor negroes are scored with the scars of blows inflicted by his lash to keep them in submission. He expects to be executed, but nevertheless manifests a sang froid worthy of a Sto[ne] under similar circumstances.
With Capt. Gedney, the surgeon of the port, and others, we visited the schooner, which is anchored within musket shot of the Washington, and there we saw such a sight as we never saw before, and never wish to see again. The bottom and sides of this vessel are covered with barnacles and sea-grass, while her rigging and sales [sic] present a scene worthy of the Flying Dutchman, after her fabled cruise. She is a Baltimore built vessel of matchless model for speed, about 120 tons burthen and about six years old.
On her deck were grouped, amid various goods and arms, the remnant of her Ethiop crew, some decked in the most fantastic manner in the silks and finery pilfered from the cargo while others, in a state of nudity, emaciated to mere skeletons, lay coiled upon the decks. Here could be seen a negro with white pantaloons and the sable shirt which nature gave him, and a planter’s broad-brimmed hat upon his head, with a string of gewgaws around his neck ; and another with a linen cambric shirt, whose bosom was worked by the hand of some dark-eyed daughter of Spain, while his nether proportions were enveloped in a shawl of gauze and Canton crape. Around the windlass were gathered the three little girls, from eight to thirteen years of age, the very images of health and gladness.
Over the deck were scattered, in the most wanton and disorderly profusion, raisins, vermicelli, bread, rice, silk, and cotton goods. In the cabin and hold were the marks of the same wasteful destruction –Her cargo appears to consist of silks, crapes, calicoes, cotton and fancy goods of various descriptions, glass and hardware, bridles, saddles, holsters, pictures, looking-glasses, books, fruits, olives, and olive oil, and “other things too numerous to mention,” which are now all mixed up in a strange and fantastic medldy [sic].
On the forward hatch we unconsciously rested our hand on a cold object, which we soon discovered to be a naked corpse enveloped in a pall of black bombazine. On removing its folds we beheld the rigid countenance and glazed eye of a poor negro who died last night. His mouth was unclosed, and still wore the ghastly expression of his last struggle. Near by him, like some watching fiend, sat the most horrible creature we ever saw in human shape, an object of terror to the very blacks, who said that he was a cannibal. His teeth projected at almost right angles from his mouth, while his eyes had a most savage and demoniac expression.
We were glad to leave this vessel, as the exhalations from her hold and deck were like anything but “gales wafted over the gardens of Gul.” Capt. Gedney has dispatched an express to the U. S. marshal, at New Haven, while he has made the most humane arrangements for the health and comfort of the prisoners, and the purification of the prize. There are now alive 44 negroes, three of whom are girls ; about 10 have died. They have been at sea 63 days.
The vessel and cargo were worth $40,000 when they let Havana, exclusive of the negroes, which cost from 20 to $30,000. Vessel and cargo were insured in Havana.
Capt. Gedney, when he first espied the Amistad, was running a line of sounding toward Montauk Point. He had heard nothing of this vessel being on the coast till after his arrival in this port.

As the Amistad sailed along the eastern coast of the United States several pilot boats began running across it. The Columbian Centinel reported this description of the encounter between the Amistad and the pilot boat, Gratitude, as reported by Captain Seaman of the Gratitude:

She spoke the long, low, black schooner twenty-five miles East of Fire Island and about eighteen miles from the land, standing E.N.E. The Gratitude ran within a few yards of her with the intention of putting a pilot aboard. Two or three of the blacks, who appeared to be the ringleaders and kept the others in awe, made signs to the pilot not to come. One had a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other, which he flourished over his head to keep the others down. These appeared to be very anxious to receive a pilot and when the eye of the fellow who had the pistol was aft of them, they would beckon the pilot to come aboard. The schooner held a name on her stern which they took to be Almeda. She had a small gilt eaglehead. The latest news from the suspicious vessel is that on Saturday at sunset she was off the end of Long Island, Montauk Point, North by East, twenty miles distant. She was standing east with sail she was able to make.

After the capture of the Amistad by the crew of the Washington, Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montes wrote a letter addressed to the newspaper subscribers of the New London, Connecticut which was published in local newspapers:

The subscribers, Don Jose Ruiz and Don Pedro Montes, in gratitude for their most unhoped for and most providential rescue from the hands of a ruthless gang of African buccaneers, and an awful death, would take this means of expressing, in some slight degree, their thankfulness and obligations to Lieutenant Commander T.R. Gedney, and the officers and crew of the U.S. surveying brig Washington, for their decision in seizing the Amistad, and their unremitting kindness and hospitality in providing for their comfort on board their vessel, as well as the means they have taken for the protection of their property.

We also must express our indebtedness to that nation whose flag they so worthily bear, with an assurance that this act will be duly appreciated by our most gracious sovereign, Her Majesty the Queen of Spain.

The Hartford Courant published an article expressing the opinion that no legal grounds for action against the Amistad Africans existed:

By the laws of the United States, the African slave trade is declared to be piracy and the persons engaged in it are liable to be punished as pirates. It would be very extraordinary then if these men, who had been stolen from their own country, and brought away for the purpose of being reduced to slavery, should be punished in the United States for using such means as they possessed to extricate themselves from the power and custody of men who gained that custody by the perpetration of a crime which by our laws would cost them their lives. It would be a singular case if both parties in the same transaction should be held guilty of a capital offense and suffer the same penalty of the law for their crimes.

The description of conditions on the slave ship during the journey from Africa given by Gilabaru, as translated by James Covey, to reporters and published in the New York Journal of Commerce:

On board the vessel there was a large number of men, but the women and children were by far the most numerous. They were fastened together by couples by the wrists and legs and kept in that situation day and night. By day it was no better. The space between the decks was so small – according to their account not exceeding four feet – that they were obliged, if they attempted to stand, to keep a crouching posture. The decks, fore and aft, were crowded to overflowing. They suffered terribly. They had rice enough to eat but they had very little to drink. If they left any of the rice that was given to them uneaten, either from sickness or any other cause, they were whipped. It was a common thing for them to be forced to eat so much as to vomit. Many of the men, women and children died on the passage.

John Quincy Adams expressed the following in a letter dated November 19, 1839 written to and published in the New York Journal of Commerce:

The Africans of the Amistad were cast upon our coast in a condition perhaps as calamitous as could befall human beings, not by their own will – not with any intention hostile or predatory on their part, not even by the act of God as in the case of shipwreck, but by their own ignorance of navigation and the deception of one of their oppressors whom they had overpowered, and whose life they had spared to enable them by his knowledge of navigation to reach their native land.

They were victims of the African slave trade, recently imported into the island of Cuba, in gross violation of the laws of the Island and of Spain; and by acts which our own laws have made piracy – punishable with death. They had indicated their natural right to liberty, by conspiracy, insurrection, homicide and capture and they were accused by the two Cuban Spaniards embarked with them in the ship, of murder and piracy – and they were claimed by the same two Cuban Spaniards, accessories after the fact to the slave-trade piracy, by which they had been brought from Africa to Cuba, as their property, because they had bought them from slave-trade pirates.

They knew nothing of the Constitution, laws or language of the country upon which they were thus thrown, and accused as pirates and murderers, claimed as slaves of the very men who were their captives, they were deprived even of the faculty of speech in their own defense. This condition was sorely calamitous; it claimed from the humanity of a civilized nation compassion; – it claimed from brotherly love of a Christian land sympathy; – it claimed from a Republic professing reverence for the rights of man justice – and what have we done?

A naval officer of the United States seizes them, their ship and cargo, with themselves; tramples on the territorial jurisdiction of the state of New York, by seizing, disarming and sending on board their ship, without warrant of arrest, several of them whom he found on shore; releases their captives; admits the claim of the two captives to fifty masters as their slaves; and claims salvage for restoring them to servitude. They are then brought before a court of the United States, at once upon the charge of piracy and murder, upon a claim to them as slaves, and upon a claim against their pretended masters for salvage, by kidnapping them again into slavery. The Circuit Judge decides that the United States do not exercise the right of all other civilized nations to try piracies committed in foreign vessels; that he thereupon cannot try them for piracy or murder, but that the District Court may try whether they are slaves or not; as it is doubtful whether this trial will be held in Connecticut or New York, and it must take time to ascertain in which, they shall in the mean time be held as slaves to abide the issue.

Is this compassion? Is it sympathy? Is it justice? But here the case now stands.

On February 10, 1840 the Hartford Courant published an article attacking President Martin Van Buren for his stand on the Amistad case.

We are informed by a gentleman from New Haven that a short time previous to the trial of the Africans of the Amistad, before the U.S. District Court at New Haven, Judge Judson presiding, Martin Van Buren addressed a letter to the Judge recommending and urging him to order the Africans to be taken back to Havana in a government vessel, to be sold there as slaves – and that about the same time the U.S. schooner Grampus was ordered to New Haven for the purpose of receiving them. The schooner, we learned from several sources, arrived at New Haven about the time of the trial under “sealed orders” and, after learning the decision of the court again, “made off.” The letter of the President, recommending that these poor unfortunate Africans be sent into perpetual bondage, is said to contain statements disgraceful to the high station of its author, and which, were they published, would excite the indignation of every Republican freeman in the land. What will the friends of liberty say to this? Surely Martin Van Buren is playing the part of a tyrant with a high hand – else why this tampering with our courts of justice, this Executive usurpation, and this heartless violation of the inalienable rights of man? Of the truth of the above there is no doubt, and we leave the unprincipled author of such a proceeding in the hands of a just and high-minded People.

A letter to the New London Gazette from an unidentified writer provided additional information regarding the arrival of the Grampus in New Haven at the time of the trial.

Now, sir it appears to me to be of little consequence to know whether instructions came from Washington or whether the case was decided before trial and its decision transmitted thither – if either supposition be true (and the facts have a strong squinting that way) the people should know it. The stride which the President has made towards universal power in other branches of the government render it by no means improbable that he has at length assumed the duties of the Judiciary, and that the case was decided at Washington long before the trial, and the Grampus held in readiness to remove the Negroes the moment the court completes the forms of the trial.

I cannot hope, sir, that this view of the subject is a mistaken one; for if it be true, our Federal Courts have become the mere instruments of the President, and if this case was prejudged without hearing either of the testimony or argument, what security is left us for our property or liberties?

Until the movements of the Grampus are explained there will remain in the minds of many, even of those who are friends of the Administration, a painful suspicion of foul play.

A reporter for the Boston Recorder described the Amistad Africans after visiting them in Westville as follows:

With one or two exceptions, they all have active minds and are quick, shrewd and intelligent. They possess deep and warm affections. Their love of Africa and home is very strong; in reply to a question put to two of the most intelligent of their number, the instant and deep-feeling answer was, “Tell the American people that we very, very much want to go home.” Poor fellows! Who can doubt it?t>

April – June 1839: Cinque and others resold to another slave trader and put aboard the Tecora which sailed to Cuba.

June 1839: Cinque and others sold to Ruiz and Montes in Havana, Cuba. Amistad leaves Havana for Guanaja with slaves and owners.

July 1839: Mutiny led by Cinque; Amistad’s captain and cook killed while two crewmen escape; Africans control Amistad.

July – August 1839: Amistad steered by Montes east by day and northwest by night, toward United States.

August 1839: Amistad captured by crew of U.S.S. Washington off of Long Island, New York; Africans held and taken with Amistad to New London, Connecticut; Judicial hearing, presided over by Judge Judson, on the U.S. S. Washington; Africans await trial in a New Haven, Connecticut jail.

September 1839: Lewis Tappan forms Friend of Amistad Africans Committee; Judge Thompson presides in Circuit Court hearing on Amistad criminal case; case dismissed by Judge Thompson for jurisdictional reasons; civil case left for District Court resolution.

October 1839: Professor Josiah Gibbs locates interperter, James Covey, and the Africans are able to tell their story; teaching Africans the English language and Christianity began; Cinque and others file charges of assualt and false imprisonment against Ruiz and Montes.

November 1839: District Court meets and postpones case.

December 1839: Slave factory at Lomboko, Sierra Leone raided by British and all slaves there liberated.

January 8, 1840: The Amistad civil trial begins in New Haven.

January 15, 1840: Judge Hudson presiding in District Court rules the Africans are to be turned over to the President for return to Africa.

August 1840: Africans taken to Westville.

September 1840: Judge Thompson of the Circuit Court upholds District Court decision; government appeals to U.S. Supreme Court.

October 1840: John Quincy Adams convinces to join Roger Baldwin in arguing the case for the Africans before the Supreme Court.

Feb. – March 1841: Baldwin and Adams argue case before Supreme Court; Court orders Africans to be freed immediately.

Mar. – Nov. 1841: Freed Africans go to Farmington for further English and religious education; local committee plans mission establishment in Africa.

November 1841: African survivors leave with missionaries for Africa aboard Gentleman.

January 1842: Arrive in Sierra Leone; mission experiences problems; many of the Africans abandon missionaries.

1846: Brother Raymond, founder of the mission in Sierra Leone dies of yellow fever and is replaced by George Thomas; 68 students attend the mission; efforts to compensate Spain for the Amistad are opposed in the House by John Quincy Adams.

1860: With the election of Abraham Lincoln as President, efforts to compensate Spain for the Amistad incident come to an end.

1879: Cinque, old and emaciated, comes to the mission to die and is buried among the graves of American missionaries.

Joseph Cinque’s arms and legs hurt so much he couldn’t move them. He and 52 other young Africans were chained together in the bottom of a ship. They had been kidnapped from their village in Sierra Leone and taken to Havana, Cuba. Now they were on a ship called the Amistad. They were being taken to Principe, Cuba, to work as slaves.

Joseph was determined to be free. One night, he and the other Africans escaped from their chains. They went to the deck of the ship, seized weapons, and fought with the ship’s crew. All but two crew members were killed.

“You must return us to our home in Africa,” Joseph told the two men. But the men still sailed to the United States. The ship was captured off the coast of Connecticut, and Joseph and the others were arrested.

Some people in the United States believed that slavery was wrong. They felt that Joseph should be free. The Supreme Court agreed with them. In 1842, Joseph and the other brave Africans finally were able to return to Africa.