PHOTO: Portraits of the Guerrero and Map of New Georgia, Liberia; Courtesy: Esquire Magazine 07/22/2024
By Wremongar B Joe, II
The Guerrero’s Team has announced a trip to Liberia in solidarity with and to document the descendants of slaves who survived a tragic shipwreck off the United States Florida coast.
The Guerrero, a Spanish slave ship, wrecked on December 19, 1827, while carrying over 561 Africans to Cuba. It was pursued by the Royal British Navy ship, the Nimble, leading to the Guerrero running aground.
This event resulted in the drowning of 41 Africans trapped in the ship’s hold, marking a grim chapter in the transatlantic slave trade.
Efforts to honor the stories of those on board have continued, with contributions from the Mel Fisher Archaeological Museum and Diving With Purpose. This mission aims to document the descendants of those Africans and build a memorial park in their honor.
A statement by the team says, the journey will include interviews, a symposium, and filming to capture the narratives of descendants living in New Georgia and other parts of Liberia. The primary objectives include engaging with descendants to preserve their stories, documenting their experiences, and establishing a park in memory of the victims.
This project is a collaboration with Diving With Purpose, David Kushner, and PIIFF, whose efforts have been crucial in raising the necessary resources.
The search for the Guerrero is conducted by National Park Service archaeologists in association with the Slave Wrecks Project, an international network of researchers led by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Other partners include George Washington University, the Iziko Museums of South Africa, the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, and the Diving With a Purpose program.
“We came to know about the Guerrroro nearly twenty-years ago, thanks to Mel Fisher Archeological Museum, Diving with Purpose and Corey Malcom for finding the remnant and other artifacts of the sunken ship off the Florida Keys”.
“Our mission now is to find the descendants who currently reside in New Georgia and other parts of Liberia”, the team statement added.
Amid efforts to minimize Black History in several US states, this project stands as a testament to the dedication required to uncover and honor these hidden stories.
The team thanked Diving with Purpose, David Kushner, and PIIFF for forming “this unique alliance that will collaborate and raise the necessary resources for the next stage of this extraordinary journey”.
“It is a profound honor that we are united to carry out this work, especially the time when the dominant American culture and several US states like Florida, have cracked down on Black History, reducing it to mere footnotes or ahistorical.”
“Our mission aims to foster healing and reconciliation both in the USA and globally,” the team added.
With the general and presidential elections approaching in the USA, the Guerrero’s Team believes its project will bring healing, reconciliation, and knowledge, and they are committed to ensuring its success and lasting impact.