Beach, M. Y. (ca. 1839) Joseph Cinquez, the brave Congolese Chief, who prefers death to slavery, and who now lies in jail. , ca. 1839. [Boston: Joseph A. Arnold] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2003690782/.
Lithograph of abolitionist Jospeh Cinquez as he awaited trial for the slave revolt aboard the Spanish ship "Amistad". The portrait was published August 31, 1839 in the New York Sun. He was represented in court by John Quincy Adams and was set free along with all involved. They were given permission to return to Africa as free men.
This picture and the events that precede it, show that there were African slaves were able to fight and gain their freedom. The story of the revolt aboard the Amistad will be forever etched in history as a reminder for people that are being oppressed that victory can be achieved if you're willing to fight for it. It is a bacon of hope in dark times that some like to forget or "put it in the past". I would like to know if Jospeh Cinquez and his fellow men in arms were able to make it back to Africa and how their story was told there. This may have not been his only attempt and it would be interesting to see if he went on to lead more.
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