THE SOULZBURRY

The slave ship Soulzburry quietly came into existence in the late 1700s, when enslaved Africans were transported from Africa to America. Some in Africa believed that coming to America might offer a better life, while others, including the prisoners of Elmina, one of Africa's oldest slave-trading ports, knew little or nothing of their fate.

During this period, enslaved Africans were in high demand, and for many, being captured meant a forced voyage across the Atlantic. Yet few knew the story of The Soulzburry.

It all began in Africa when the slave ship Nordick Gale sailed into Elmina to purchase enslaved people. The village chief and the ship's captain gathered to negotiate their trade.

Two young boys, one of African descent, Akee, the town witch doctor's son, and the other of Norwegian descent, Carland, the captain's son, quickly formed a friendship.

They played and laughed together for weeks, teaching each other their languages. Both vowed to remain friends forever.

Before the ship's scheduled departure, the boys cleverly devised a way to stay in touch. They carved a small opening into the wood beneath a window at the stern of the ship. Inside, they could hide letters for each other.

As the ship traveled back and forth, each boy could leave a note for the other. They laughed as they made their promise, knowing that the day of departure would eventually arrive.

One night, Akee's little brother, Ardawan, awakened and began shouting.

"Akee! Akee! Akee!" cried Ardawan. "They're gone! Wake up, I tell you! The ship is gone!"

As Akee heard the news, his heart began pounding. He ran to the window. Shocked by what he saw, he began to cry.

He embraced his little brother, and together they stared into the distance.

"Nothing," Akee whispered. "My friend is gone."

That night, the two brothers cried themselves to sleep.

Two years passed before Carland wrote to Akee about the horrors he had witnessed during his voyage back to America.

"They beat them and starved them," Carland wrote. "If I cried out, my father would punish me. He repeatedly told me that Africans were worth nothing, that they were savage animals meant only to be enslaved.

"And then he would turn to me and say, 'And you, my son? You should be ashamed of yourself! Stop it! Stop it, I tell you!'"

When Carland received Akee's reply, he learned that his friend's village had also suffered.

"Yes, my friend," Akee wrote. "Your departure began a new day for our village. There were screams, I tell you, like the cries of baby gazelles being killed by lions while their mothers watched helplessly.

"We, too, have witnessed the horrors — the cries of people being beaten and terrified of the unknown voyage to America.

"And my father has told me, 'Son, soon you too will be of age, and you'll be sold to the Americans.'"

A year later, Akee received a second letter from Carland. Inside was a detailed plan to free him.

By then, both boys were old enough to understand the differences between their worlds.

Carland wrote:

"There's a ship called The Soulzburry. When you see her, you must board her!

"Do whatever you must, my friend, but board that ship!

"Wait and watch for the Soulzburry. When she enters the harbor, sneak aboard as we did when we were children. Hide if you must. Do whatever it takes, Akee, but get aboard!"

Years passed. Still, there was no ship and no more letters.

"Am I to trust my fate to a pen?" Akee wondered.

Then, one evening, as the sun approached the horizon, a vessel appeared in the harbor.

Akee strained to read its name.

Moments seemed like hours.

Could this be the ship? And if so, what now?

He stared, his eyes filling with tears.

Finally, as the vessel slowly turned to starboard, he could make out the name painted along its side.

SOULZBURRY.

Overwhelmed, Akee fell to the ground and wept. At last, exhausted by emotion and the thought of seeing his friend Carland again, he cried himself to sleep.

The following morning, the sounds of the witch doctor's ritual echoed for miles through the village. It was customary to perform this ceremony whenever visiting ships arrived.

Poor Akee was bewildered, uncertain what to do as he descended the hill toward the village.

When he arrived, his father stood waiting.

"The time has come, Akee!" he declared. "You, too, will be sold and shipped to America!"

The villagers understood what the arrival of another ship meant: more enslaved people would be taken away.

Days later, Akee stood in chains, awaiting his voyage.

All around him, prisoners pleaded and begged while others resisted.

But Akee could think only of Carland's letters.

You must board this ship, Akee. Whatever happens, you must get aboard.

Finally, they came for him.

He offered no resistance.

Bewildered, Akee looked toward his father as he was dragged away.

"Papa! Papa!" he cried.

But there was no response.

Later that evening, the ship set sail.

The cries of the enslaved people filled the night as they struggled against their chains.

"YA MA! YA MA!"

Free me! Free me!

Their voices echoed across the water as the ship slowly disappeared beyond the horizon into darkness.

The following morning, aboard the vessel, the captain called out loudly:

"Akee! Akee! Speak up, I say!"

Silence fell across the deck.

Fearfully, Akee raised his hand.

The captain approached, bent down, and spoke quietly.

"Akee, I have a letter for you. It's from your friend, Carland."

Akee began trembling. Tears streamed down his face. He was so overwhelmed that he could not bring himself to read the letter.

The captain gently opened it and began to read.

"To my friend Akee:

YOU ARE FREE."

The captain straightened, looked across the crowded deck, and shouted:

"ALL ABOARD ARE FREE!

WE'RE GOING TO AMERICA!

UNCHAIN THEM!"

Written by: Bill Miller

© 2023 Bill Miller. All Rights Reserved.

U.S. Copyright Registration No. TXu 2-360-333

Registered February 27, 2023