This is a picture of Prince Abdul Rahman.
Valleys, Mountains, and Beautiful Things
Abdul Rahman lived in the capital, Futa, Jallon, Africa. There was many valleys and mountains. Rahman described it as a beautiful and urban area with a strong government. He had an education was wealthy, and the descendant of a king. He lived with his wife and child. Rahman was a Prince and the commander of 2,000 men.
Captured and Sold
Rahman and his army just defeated their enemies and were on their way home when they got ambushed. Rahman said his men dropped like rain. They were ambushed by a rival of their tribe, rahman's father's enemies. They dragged Rahman and his men to sea, barefoot. They were sold as slaves for gun powder, muskets, and rum. All the captives were put in a dark dungeon, chained and crammed. Dead bodies were thrown overboard. There was little food. Many had cuts and wounds.
Life of a Slave
Thomas Foster is a hard working business man and farmer. The captives from the ship were now being sold in the Americas. Thomas bought two slaves for 930 pesos. One of those slaves was Abdul Rahman. The other slave was one of Rahman's men. Foster lived in Mississippi, but he was from South Carolina. Abdul was rich, and then poor when coming to the Americas. Rahman tried to explain to Foster that he was a prince, but he took it as a joke and started calling him Prince. Rahman tried to escape the plantation but he soon realized that the return to Africa would be impossible. He was no longer a prince. Rahman returns to the plantation because he realizes that his old life is gone and he has no where to go. Surprisingly, when he returns he doesn't get a punishment. Abdul gets married and has nine children. Abdul brought a lot of success to the plantation. He was familiar with the cotton crop and he could plant a lot of cotton from the skills he learned in Africa. Abdul wanted to earn some money so Foster allowed him to sell crops and vegetables that he grew. One day when Abdul was at the market selling crops, John Cox recognized Abdul. John served as the ships servant that Abdul was brought over on. Abdul saved him. John asked Abdul to go to his house but Abdul said he couldn't leave his potatoes. John offered Foster money to free Abdul but Foster refused to sell him because Rahman keeps all the slaves in check and if he sold him his profits would go down. Abdul brought so much success to the plantation so he would never sell him. Andrew Marschalk is from New York and he is a newspaper publisher. He brought a printing press with him. Rahman asked him if he could send a letter to his family back in Africa. Rahman finally sends a letter to his family. What makes him do this is he starts thinking about his future. His family would be torn apart. Foster raped his daughter. He is concerned about the future generation. Andrew ends up publicizing Rahman's story.
Return to Africa
Foster finally decides to free Rahman, but only under one condition. Rahman has to go back to his country and can never go back to the US. Rahman goes to the North, where he meets President John Quincy Adams. Rahman told his children before he left that he would buy them free. Rahman went to Ohio. That was the first time in his life that he was in a place with no slaves. John Quincy Adams says he will give rahman money to purchase freedom for his children. But he soon declines when he finds out that Rahman isn't really from Morocco. The American Colonization Society is an organization that helps former slaves/free blacks get back to Africa and try to spread Christianity. Rahman goes to work in boston with Donald Walker to earn more money. In the end, his plight to free his children is unsuccessful. He sadly only raised half of the money he needed to free his children. Rahman returns to Africa without his children, but now Rahman is free.
Bibliography
Prince Among Slaves. Dir Bill Duke & Andrea Kalin. PBS. 2008
