What movie(s) changed my life or, at least, perspective?

The Stephen Spielberg historical movie “Amistad” which tells the true story of 53 free Africans captured with the intention of selling them into slavery.

The incident began In February 1839 when Portuguese slave hunters illegally seized 53 Africans in Sierra Leone, a British colony, whom they intended to sell in the Spanish colony of Cuba.

However, the slaves revolted while on the schooner Amistad, killing its captain and cook, and directing the planters to sail the ship to Africa. Instead, the planters steered the ship north, where it wound up at Long Island Sound. The U.S. Navy spotted the vessel and took its occupants into custody.

The plantation owners were freed and the Africans were imprisoned on charges of murder. Although the murder charges were dismissed, the Africans continued to be held in confinement and the case went to trial in the Federal District Court in Connecticut.

After two district courts ruled in favor of the abolitionists, Then U.S. President Martin Van Buren immediately instructed the U.S. attorney general to appeal. Abolitionists hired John Quincy Adams, who some referred to as “Old Man Eloquent,” to argue for the Africans’ freedom in the Supreme Court.

On February 24, 1841, former President John Quincy Adams begins to argue the Amistad case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. A practicing lawyer and member of the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams was the son of America’s second president, founding father and avowed abolitionist John Adams.

The Africans had designated one of their own to represent them and accompany Adams to the Supreme Court hearing. Adams did win the case and the Africans were freed but when Adams met with the designated leader of the 53 Africans before the hearing, he tried to prepare him for a challenging day in court, reminding him that he would probably not be well received. Telling him, he would definitely be standing there alone. The African looked Adams in the I and said, “I will not be alone. I will call on the strength of my ancestors and they have to come.”

The African’s words struck me so forcefully and for me, they rang true. I can’t tell you how many times I have called on my ancestors and claimed their strength in times when anxiety strikes and they always come. Creation is one.