via Wikimedia
It was routine by 1730 for Europeans to raid the coasts of Africa and ensnare African people for a life of forced and demeaning labor. But most of our ancestors didn’t go without a fight.
So was the case of the abducted Africans on the Little George ship...
The ship sailed from the Coast of Guinea that year, packed tight with enslaved “cargo” headed for a life of slavery in Rhode Island.
For six days they lay crammed in heavy shackles, with poor ventilation and disturbing acts of abuse by their captors. But on that sixth day… they had had enough.
After painfully freeing themselves from chains, the abducted took control of the ship, killing sailors who fought back and locking the captain in a cabin. Cleverly, they created a bomb out of gunpowder, forcing any sailors to submit who hadn’t already.
With total control of the ship, the self-freed slaves - with little seafaring knowledge! - navigated the Little George back to Africa.
After several days, the captured Africans made it to the coast of Sierra Leone, free at last!
Like many other of our ancestors, these brave men and women refused to be taken hostage. Instead, they took back their freedom - and control of their lives.