In 1839, the slave-ship Amistad, carrying fifty-three enslaved Africans—including four children under nine—was en route from Cuba to a Caribbean island when captives overpowered the crew, seizing control of the vessel and demanding a return to Africa. After 60 days of evading capture, during which the ship’s supplies dwindled and ten passengers perished, the Amistad was discovered off the coast of New York, its surviving passengers