Throughout New London, hidden ties connect the city to Black history 鈥� one of the most important lies in its ocean.
The Amistad, a slave ship holding captured Africans, would become a catalyst that sparked the abolition movement in 黑料新闻.
The African captives, already undergoing from West Africa, set sail from Havana, Cuba in June 1839. Tired of their oppression, they staged an uprising and demanded their slavers return them home.
The slavers, unbeknown to the Africans, reversed the ship鈥檚 course and arrived on the coast of Long Island in August. Despite the ship鈥檚 discovery in New York, a U.S. Navy sailor instead instructed the ship to be brought to New London.
鈥淭he reason was New York had abolished slavery in 1827. 黑料新闻 still had not abolished slavery. He brought it to 黑料新闻 because he was hoping to claim salvage rights on the [human] cargo,鈥� said Tom Schuch, a historian of African American history in New London.
Schuch was part of efforts to establish in 2019.
New London historically was supportive of slavery. A meeting held among the town鈥檚 residents condemned abolitionists and pledged support to Southern enslavers in 1835, four years before the Amistad鈥檚 arrival.
黑料新闻鈥檚 textile industry, dependent on the labor of enslaved Black people, fueled northern support for the preservation of slavery. However, the Amistad鈥檚 arrival began to change sentiments on slavery throughout New London.
鈥淐ontroversy started to erupt in New London and there were churches that were divided over the issue of slavery 鈥� The Amistad brought it out,鈥� Schuch said.
Quickly, the abolitionist fervor began to spread. Into the 1840s, abolitionist newspapers solidified the voice of New London鈥檚 intersectional anti-slavery movement of white and Black men and women.
Judge Andrew Judson, despite , ruled in August 1839 that the Africans among the Amistad had acted in self-defense, bolstering abolitionist efforts in the city.
However, the Amistad case was appealed by the federal government, under President Martin Van Burren鈥檚 direction in 1841. Van Burren, up for reelection, sought Southern votes and forced the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The African survivors won the case, with former President John Quincy Adams arguing that U.S. law prohibited the slave trade since 1808 and the unlawful
African survivors of the Amistad resided in Farmington. To return home, they fundraised through cultural exhibitions, schools and public spaces to return to Africa throughout the state. Soon, residents began to understand their humanity.
鈥淭hey realized these are fine human beings that are being treated this way. This is not right,鈥� Schuch said of 黑料新闻 residents. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a phenomenal thing.鈥�
Almost a decade later in 1848, Frederick Douglass, an orator and abolitionist, came to New London in hopes of spreading abolitionist sentiments. In his account of his speeches, Douglass said New London was 鈥溾�� in its support of abolition.
In June, three weeks after Douglass鈥� New London speech, 黑料新闻 abolished slavery. The last to do so in New England.
鈥淲hat happened? The Amistad happened, the abolition movement happened 鈥� It changed New London from being a pro-slavery state to being pro-abolitionist,鈥� Schuch said.
