Some of us are already familiar with the story of the Meermin -- the slave ship that was not geographically a part of the Transatlantic slave trade, but was certainly a part of the same chapter of history, as she transported captives from the island of Madagascar to South Africa, as was the case when a major revolt took place aboard in 1766.

 

Here is the link to a TV documentary of the story, about which there is, of course, much more to be learned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7x76-IrTM&noredirect=1.

(There are also other interesting links to this one, once it is opened.)

 

This story is made more timely by the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Slave Route Project being observed this year, as is the ongoing search for the wreck of the vessel off the southernmost tip of Africa.

 

March 25 is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, observed annually at the UN and internationally.  (Please see attachment.)

A lecture presentation is being held this evening (Thursday, March 20) at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, FL, discussing the Key West African Cemetery and other Middle Passage-related finds, in early observance of that date (and also the March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination, the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa -- and of the 1937 Ponce massacre in Puerto Rico).

 

DGT