Who is cinque

But the debate spoke to a much larger anxiety. There is no Hans Sprungfeld, no tongueless pirate fiend, lurking behind the most famous of the Amistad rebels. But an excessive focus on this single figure would be a mistake. Even after winning their Supreme Court case, the Amistad veterans could not escape the shadow of slavery, and viewed from an African perspective, their story highlights the enduring and insidious reach of the slave trade.

At the same time, it draws our attention to the international scope of antislavery activism and the commitment of both white and black abolitionists to open an African front in their revolutionary crusade.

Surely this is a form of heroism as well. My analysis of the early years of the Mendi Mission is based on a close reading of the correspondence from both white missionaries and native Africans, especially as published in the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Reporter and the Union Missionary between June and August The American Missionary Association Archives, housed at Tulane University, are the standard resource for all things Amistad , including the missionary efforts in West Africa.

This collection is also available on microfilm, but the current index is woefully inaccurate and some of the filmed documents are completely illegible. Brownlee, New Day Ascending Boston, Details on the commercial economy of the Sierra Leone region throughout this period can be found in Allen M.

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Please follow us on Twitter Commonplacejrnl or Facebook commonplacejournal and thank you for your support. Skip to content. Share Article:. Some new evidence on an old controversy. The stoic pose and Greco-Roman attire project the image of a classical statesman, while the bamboo pole and ominous weather hint at his embrace of libratory violence.

This portrait was commissioned by prominent African American activist Robert Purvis and completed by white abolitionist Nathaniel Jocelyn sometime around Despite their best efforts, the missionaries could not convince most of the Amistad survivors to abandon their indigenous beliefs.

Photograph courtesy of the author; original in the Yale University Libraries. Susu slave traders, as drawn by George Thompson, sometime in the early s. The Susu were Muslims from the region north of Sierra Leone. Cinque took command and managed to convey to Montes that he wished the ship steered east to Africa. Montes steered east during the day and northwest, toward the United States, at night.

Cinque maintained command of the vessel, sometimes through use of force, until it and all survivors were taken captive by the crew of the U. Washington on August 26, Cinque had been ashore foraging with others when the Washington approached and was taken captive as he returned to the Amistad.

Cinque was identified as the leader by Ruiz and Montes. He was subsequently taken aboard the Washington, as he attempted to arouse the Africans to rebel against these new captors while on board the Amistad. An arraignment was held before then Circuit Judge Judson and the Africans were ordered held for trial without bond based on the testimony of Ruiz that they were slaves who, during mutiny, had murdered the captain and cook.

The Africans were taken to New Haven where they were held in jail with Cinque being separated from them to prevent him from stirring them to rebel. Cinque continued to be recognized as the group's leader throughout the court proceedings associated with the Amistad Africans. He learned a great deal of English while in the U. Cinque returned to Africa with missionaries and the remaining Amistad survivors.

After his return he discovered that his family could not be found and his entire village had been destroyed. It is suspected that his family was taken and sold into slavery. Having taken over the ship, Pieh ordered the schooner sail towards Africa.

Rather than comply, the second-mate - who was steering the ship - secretly changed course at night, sailing west or north. After two months at sea the Amistad was seized by the U. Sengbe Pieh and the surviving African captives were arrested and charged with murder and piracy. Pieh and the others told their story through a translator; providing accounts of their capture, sale into slavery, and their attempts to free themselves aboard the Amistad.

They ruled that Pieh and the others had been illegally captured, and thus illegally sold into slavery. Cinque, the leader of the Africans, was then examined. Cinque told Captain Gedney he might take the vessel and keep it, if he would send them to Sierra Leone.

His conversation with Captain Gedney was carried on by the aid of Bernar, who could speak a little English. They had taken on board part of their supply of water, and wanted to go to Sierra Leone.

They were three and a half months coming from Havana to this country. Cross examined by General Isham. Cinque said he came from Mendi. He was taken in the road where he was at work, by countrymen.

He was not taken in battle. He did not sell himself. He was taken to Lomboko, where he met the others for the first time.

Those who took him - four men - had a gun and knives. Has three children in Africa. Has one wife. Never said he had two wives. Can't count the number of days after leaving Havana before the rising upon the vessel. The man who had charge of the schooner was killed. Then he and Pepe sailed the vessel.

Witness told Pepe, after Ferrer was killed, to take good care of the cargo. The brig fired a gun, and then they gave themselves up.