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Staff Picks
Links to the documents, images, and contextual materials which Amistad project
staff, consultants, and volunteers have found most compelling, unusual, or interesting.
Sally McGee, Production Coordinator
- New York University's, Better
Living through (Web ) Radio (link no longer available). Our "Exploring Amistad" web radio show
served as the debut of the web site. This panel discussion and concurrent chat session
meshed new media and history, if not seamlessly, innovatively.
- "Testimony
of Cinque, January 8, 1840, U.S. District Court, Connecticut" Cinque's voice
as clear as we will ever hope to hear.
- Talladega Murals (Mutiny,
Trial,
and Return),
marking the 100th anniversary of the Amistad revolt. Hale Woodruff depicts the violence
that these individuals were forced to employ, and the strength they mustered to endure
court trial after court trial.
Adam Kessler, Intern:
- "Process
of Amalgamation - Morals of Philidelphia" - I was stunned that this was
in print in a national newspaper, and a northern one to boot. Obviously prejudice
existed in the North, but I thought this type of blatant racism and hate would normally
be found publically written in the South.
- "Part
Three of the Supreme Court Decision" - This was the most interesting aspect
of the decision to me, because it is here Justice Story reveals that, in the eyes
of the Supreme Court, blacks are property and slavery is condoned by the Constitution.
It showed me that this case was very specific in its implications and is not as liberal
as it seems to be portrayed today in the popular media. This doesn't detract from
this case's importance, merely qualifies it.
- Fuliwa's
Testimony, Grabeau's
Testimony, Cinque's
Testimony These testimonies are all amazing. It's fascinating to imagine the
scene in the courtroom as these three individuals were speaking, and in Cinque's
case, demonstrating how he was chained during the Middle Passage. They are filled
with very powerful statements, my favorite of which is: "Wanted to go to sea
to Sierra Leone." This was the last sentence of Grabeau's testimony after he
had described the horrible Middle Passage, their trials at sea aboard the Amistad,
and thier attempt to have Henry Green navigate them back home. All he, and the other
Africans, wanted to do was return home.
- "Richard
Madden's District Court deposition" - Madden's deposition is a first hand
account of the machine that was the illegal African slave trade in Cuba. Once you
start reading it, you can't stop just because of the incredible detail he provides
of the ways contrived to get around the local authorities.
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