A Personal Odyssey

5/9/2017

Shackles from the Deep:
Tracing the Path of a Sunken Slave Ship, a Bitter Past, and a Rich Legacy

by Michael H. Cottman

"Our ancestors endured the worst possible fates imaginable - and we survived."

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Michael H. Cottman's pilgrimage, tracing the history of the manacles found aboard the slave ship Henrietta Marie, Using historical documents as a guide, Cottman commenced a personal odyssey, researching the slave ship's journey.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.

Beginning at Key West, Cottman followed the ship to its origins in London, visiting the National Maritime Museum and the St Mary Abchurch. He located the English foundry when the ship's cannons were manufactured. Next stop for his research was Barbados, where the Henrietta Marie anchored in 1698, then on to a plantation in Jamaica. His odyssey concluded with a trip to Africa. The journey allowed Cottman to discover a pain-filled past. Significantly, he discovered his connection to history and the African continent. This slim volume includes four pages of color photos, map, timeline, list of resources and an index. Each chapter is introduced with an appropriate proverb originating from from Africa or an African nation. Shackles from the Deep: Tracing the Path of a Sunken Slave Ship, a Bittle Past, and a Rich Legacy is a personal and poignant story for young readers.

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.