Shackles from the Deep:
Tracing the Path of a Sunken Slave Ship, a Bitter Past, and a Rich Legacy
by Michael H. Cottman
In 1972 Demostenes "Moe" Molinar, boat captain, professional diver, and treasure hunter uncovered long-buried artifacts off the coast of the Florida Keys: shackles. Many sets of shackles. Among the wrecked slave ship's remnants were tiny iron bands used on the hands and feet of small enslaved children. This stunning discovery led to journalist Michael H. Cottman's pilgrimage, tracing the history of the manacles found aboard the slave ship Henrietta Marie, Using historical documents as a guide, Cottman commenced a personal odyssey, researching the slave ship's journey. Retracing the route of a slave ship was more than a history lesson for me: This was an emotional journey. |
Here I was standing on the shores of my ancestral homeland, and I was filled with a range of emotions. I felt extrememe sadness for my African ancestors who were forced into the brutal slave trade, and anger at the European slave traders, but uplifted by the enduring spirit and survival of African people.
Images: Uncovering the Past
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