In 2015, Discovering Amistad was formed following a recommendation by a State of Connecticut Advisory Committee.

The organization purchased the Amistad, Connecticut's flagship and a replica of the original schooner, in November 2015. Staff and volunteers spent the next year working on the ship, which was in great disrepair.

While the ship was prepared to be Coast Guard compliant, the organization developed interactive, proprietary curriculum that addresses equity and adheres to the most up-to-date national C3 (College, Career and Civic Life) social studies framework.

The lessons begin with the 1839 Amistad Uprising and the subsequent landmark Supreme Court decision while highlighting themes of social justice such as dehumanization, resistance, and modern-day comparisons. The program is the only one of its kind. With lessons conducted by our specially trained educators in classrooms and aboard the ship, history comes to life as we use the past as a framework for addressing present challenges related to diverse social issues.

To date, we have brought our program to more than 16,000 students, who use critical thinking as they learn about slavery and injustice in the United States. Discovering Amistad's education is not only centered on the history of the Amistad but, importantly, it focuses on how that history has impacted our world today. The organization works with our community partners throughout the state as we continue to build our education program.

Students and teachers alike have found that these hands-on lessons board the ship have significantly increased their comprehension and the impact of our long-storied issues of freedom and slavery, oppression and empowerment and the achievement of justice.

Discovering Amistad is appreciative of support that has been received from the Department of Economic and Community Development. The Organization has been awarded nonprofit exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Discovering Amistad is to connect people of all ages with the Amistad story, motivating them to act and work to change systems that perpetuate racism, to ensure human rights for all.

A Brief History

In 1839, Mende captives from Sierra Leone took control of the ship, the Amistad. Unable to navigate back to Africa, the ship was captured and towed into the port of New London Harbor in Connecticut. The Mende were faced with slavery or execution, and their cause was taken up by many residents throughout Connecticut. U.S. Circuit and District courts ruled in favor of the Mende. This case was then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and in 1841 this court agreed with the lower court decisions and the Mende captives were ordered freed.

The role that Connecticut and its citizens played has been told and retold over the years, and in 1999 a new organization was formed and a recreation of the Amistad ship was built in Mystic, Connecticut and launched in 2000. Since then, the Amistad has been used as a floating classroom to teach students and adults around the world about this important story. In 2015, Discovering Amistad was formed to take ownership of the recreation Amistad and has continued its mission to advance racial and social justice today.