10 Photos
A replica of La Amistad docked at Long Wharf in Sag Harbor in September of 2002. DANA SHAW
A replica of La Amistad docked at Long Wharf in Sag Harbor in September of 2002. DANA SHAW
Amistad Week Schedule
1840 engraving depicting the Amistad revolt Color Engraving and Frontispiece from John Warner Barber (1840). A History of the Amistad Captives. New Haven, Connecticut: E.L. and J.W. Barber, Hitchcock & Stafford, Printers. "Death of Capt. Ferrer, the Captain of the Amistad, July 1839." Caption: "Don Jose Ruiz and Don Pedro Montez of the Island of Cuba, having purchased fifty-three slaves at Havana, recently imported from Africa, put them on board the Amistad, Capt. Ferrer, in order to transport them to Principe, another port on the Island of Cuba. After being out from Havana about four days, the African captives on board, in order to obtain their freedom, and return to Africa, armed themselves with cane knives, and rose upon the Captain and crew of the vessel. Capt. Ferrer and the cook of the vessel were killed; two of the crew escaped; Ruiz and Montez were made prisoners."
Amistad Week Schedule
Dancers at Culloden Point for the dedication of the Amistad historical marker in August of 2023. KYRIL BROMLEY
Georgette Grier-Key of the Eastville Community Historical Society, Mia Certic of the Montauk Historical Society and Brenda Simmons of the Southampton African American Museum at Culloden Point for the dedication of the Amistad historical marker in August of 2023. KYRIL BROMLEY
The historical marker for The Amistad near Culloden Point. KYRIL BROMLEY
A print of Cinqué that appeared in The Sun on August 31, 1839. Moses Yale Beach, portrait probably by James or Isaac Sheffield. Joseph Cinquez was the leader of a revolt among African slaves aboard the Spanish ship "Amistad" en route to Cuba in June 1839. The slaves seized control of the ship but were soon recaptured and charged with murder and piracy. This portrait was done while Cinquez (or "Cinque") awaited trial in New Haven, Connecticut. John Quincy Adams represented the Africans before the Supreme Court, and thanks to his eloquence, they were set free and allowed to return to Africa. Sheffield's portrait is sympathetic and informal. The text quotes Cinquez's sober and moving speech to his comrades on board ship after the mutiny. He said, "Brothers, we have done that which we purposed, our hands are now clean for we have Striven to regain the precious heritage we received from our fathers. . . . I am resolved it is better to die than to be a white man's slave . . ." Commissioned by the publisher of the New York "Sun," the print was described and advertised for sale in the account of the capture of the "Amistad," published in that newspaper's August 31, 1839 issue. (The "Sun" account, evidently erroneous in this detail, names the artist as "James" Sheffield.) The Library's impression of the lithograph was deposited for copyright the same day.
A painting by an unkonown artist depicts La Amistad off Culloden Point on August 26, 1839.
Amistad Week in Montauk, August 22-29
August 22: Discovering Amistad drops anchor at Culloden Point. Welcome celebration on the beach to follow, at a time to be determined.
August 23: Discovering Amistad sets up for the rest of the week at the Montauk Town Dock on Star Island. Open House from 2 to 6 p.m. Visitors can come aboard the replica schooner, chat with members of the Discovering Amistad team and tour the boat. Educators on board are on hand to tell the story of the Amistad and answer any questions.
August 24: Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a ticketed VIP event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Must be 21 or older to attend the VIP event, where drinks and refreshments will be served.
A young actress will be on hand during the day and at the VIP event portraying Margru, a young female passenger on the Amistad who had an instrumental part in the takeover of the ship.
August 25: Open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a focus on activities for children and youth. Margru will be on hand again.
August 26: Open House from 2 to 6 p.m.
August 27: Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., specifically targeted to educators, historians, and museum people.
Panel discussion with New York State Historian Devin Leander, at the Oceans Institute at the Montauk Point Lighthouse from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
August 28: Open house 2 to 6 p.m.
For more information on Amistad Week, including scheduling changes, updated times and more, visit montaukhistoricalsociety.org.
Staff Writer on Aug 12, 2024