Enslaved: The Sunken History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

by Sean Kingsley, Simcha Jacobovici, Brenda Jones (Preface)

A riveting and illuminating exploration of the transatlantic slave trade by an intrepid team of divers seeking to reclaim the stories of their ancestors.

“For me, Enslaved is an attempt to give a voice to the millions whose voices were silenced.”—Samuel L. Jackson, human rights activist and Hollywood icon

From the writers behind the acclaimed documentary series Enslaved (starring Samuel L. Jackson), comes a rich and revealing narrative of the true global and human scope of the transatlantic slave trade. The trade existed for 400 years, during which 12 million people were trafficked, and 2 million would die en route.

In these pages we meet the remarkable group, Diving with a Purpose (DWP), as they dive sunken slave ships all around the world. They search for remains and artifacts testifying to the millions of kidnapped Africans that were transported to Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. From manilla bracelets to shackles, cargo, and other possessions, the finds from these wrecks bring the stories of lost lives back to the surface.

As we follow the men and women of DWP across eleven countries, Jacobovici and Kingsley’s rich research puts the archaeology and history of these wrecks that lost between 1670 to 1858 in vivid context. From the ports of Gold Coast Africa, to the corporate hubs of trading companies of England, Portugal and the Netherlands, and the final destinations in the New World, Jacobovici and Kingsley show how the slave trade touched every nation and every society on earth.

Though global in scope, Enslaved makes history personal as we experience the divers’ sadness, anger, reverence, and awe as they hold tangible pieces of their ancestors’ world in their hands. What those people suffered on board those ships can never be forgiven. Enslaved works to ensure that it will always be remembered and understood, and is the first book to tell the story of the transatlantic slave trade from the bottom of the sea.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, American Civil War, Race, Social Justice, Historical

336 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Sean is an explorer, marine archaeologist and writer who has tracked down wonders across the world’s seas - from 1,500-year-old wine jars off Israel to 700 letters miraculously preserved with a cargo of World War II silver off Ireland.

When Sean’s not running Wreckwatch magazine and TV about sunken treasures or writing for Smithsonian Magazine, he’s part of teams exploring the first-rate warship the Victory in the English Channel – predecessor to Nelson’s Victory – and helping research the Spanish galleon the Maravillas, lost off the Bahamas in 1656 with five million pieces of eight.

With a doctorate from the University of Oxford, Sean has been called the David Attenborough of shipwrecks. Home is on the outskirts of Windsor Great Park.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book with a different perspective on the horror of the slave trade. By following Diving With A Purpose in their quest for maritime archaeological evidence of the slave trade it fills in some of the gaps in my knowledge. Though it also rehashes a bit of known history on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, and the history of the abolition of slavery in various countries. Unfortunately the book suffers a bit from reading like a transcript of the television show (which I look forward to watching). Otherwise, a very worthwhile read.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the reader on a journey across the world, through different countries, and to the bottom of the ocean. The search for artifacts and wreckage from ships that sank during the transport of kidnapped people for enslavement was simultaneously exciting and emotional. I think people who are confronted with the history of slavery, at least in the United States, simply think of it in terms of the people who were actually on land at these plantations and such. I cannot recall ever hearing about sunken ships, and life aboard the ship was never mentioned beyond it was crowded and unsanitary and sometimes they died aboard. (Then again, I was educated through high school in the State of Tennessee, and I do not hold a high opinion of that education.) I was staggered by the information that this book presented, and would strongly encourage others who are interested in slavery or the Transatlantic Slave Trade to pick up this book. I have the Audible version, and it was decent to listen to. The narration wasn't unbearable, and it was a moderately long listen.

Apparently, there is a documentary series that stars Samuel L. Jackson that the authors of this book wrote. I am going to have to look for that, because I am very interested in seeing it. I really liked learning more about Diving With A Purpose, who are mentioned heavily in this book. I think they are doing wonderful work and adding tremendous information to the historical record. Learning true and accurate history about the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the enslavement of people in general is so important to how we understand cultural experiences and the things that are still going on today. I wanted to be an archaeologist and a historian when I grew up, and only have accomplished the latter goal. I love books that focus on the archaeological aspect, and I also love shipwrecks. This book was right up my alley for a lot of reasons, but the actual research and narrative of the book was well done and informative.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF I listened to the audio version. Excellent reading voice of the narrator. The information read like an encyclopedia entry at the beginning and was choppy for me. Getting past that and into the actual dives, I thought would be more interesting. It really wasn’t sadly. In addition, there were some contradicting statements that were off putting.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that I was ignorant of the history of the slave traders and how many countries were involved. The level of greed was, unfortunately, not as surprising as the complete disregard for the lives of the human beings aboard that the ship captains exhibited. African captives were often sealed in the hold when ships sunk as the insurance companies would only pay out if the “cargo” was lost. The inhumanity was stunning and sickening.

I was hoping to get more from the actual dives to locate sunken ships, which often had to be abandoned due to sea and weather conditions. I understand that these vessels were at the bottom of seas and rivers for centuries, but each disappointment brought the story to a halt. I would then need to try to put myself back in the narrative.

Overall this was an informative read, but not a particularly engaging one.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

For over four hundred years, slave ships transported kidnapped and imprisoned Africans to fuel the economies of the New World. Millions of lives were lost, sometimes intentionally, during the voyage. Dehumanized and treated as cargo, only a small number were able to tell their story for the historical record.

Through underwater archaeology, the organization Diving With A Purpose is humanizing the victims of the transatlantic slave trade by exploring the ships and stories of those who sailed and sometimes perished on them. Sobering reading.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. A bit hap-hazard with the structure but the stories and details are worth it. In depth research and good perspectives. I learned so much from this book and I'm interested in knowing more.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work looks at the history of the slave trade as driven by the European powers and its impacts in the Western Hemisphere, at least from the perspective of finding the shipwrecks of key ships that moved slaves, either from Africa to the New World and those that used ship transportation to move either to further enslavement or to freedom. The history is interesting, especially when focusing on the non-American aspects of the slave trade, which many American readers will not be as familiar with. However, the accounts and organization of the book jumps around in geographic locations and timelines. It can make it hard to determine if the authors were overall successful in all of their ventures. The history can be worth reading, and the wreck diving/process has its moments, but you might find better works that cover this subject matter.

[Jph12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it was detailing the history of the slave trade, this was an interesting book.

When it turned to the present day adventures of Diving With a Purpose, however, it was not. These sections were overwrought and repetitive--much like a reality show where they don't have enough footage to fill the hour so before every commercial break there's an extended, "coming up . . ." and a recap once the commercials are over. Plus, the Diving With a Purpose group doesn't seem to be very rigorous, leaping to conclusions that are not warranted by the evidence. Finding a manilla in a wreck doesn't mean the ship was a slave ship--presumably manillas were also used to buy everything else the English were buying from Africa. You can't confirm the oral history of two boats sinking by finding the ballast from one boat. And the decision to start the book by talking about how important it was to track down the mass-murder boat, only to have the group abandon the search after a single dive on a single day, was certainly curious. These sections were difficult to slog through.

[Hannah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

really learnt a lot from this book. It’s confronting to get an impression of the amount of crime scenes scattered across the world from the slave trade.

I didn’t love the structure of the book, it constantly went back and forth between numerous time periods and locations which could be confusing at times. Overall the structure seems too closely linked to the TV show from which it is based and can sometimes read too much like a contrived script than a work of non-fiction. I think it would be have been strengthened by stepping away from hitting the same beats/structure as a TV episode.

Overall really engrossing and fascinating. It’s great to know there are diving organisations out there working to uncover and preserve this evidence.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject is fascinating, but this book suffers a little from poor writing. This book is a companion to a documentary (which I haven't seen because I don't have the right streaming service ofc), and in my opinion the writing sticks too faithfully to the documentary format. Some issues of focus and pacing that would work on a visual format don't work in a book. Despite the shoddy writing, there's a lot of be learned here.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book had some interesting elements, I felt that more could have been made of the lives and what the discoveries meant to the main divers, Kinga, Alannah, Josh and Kramer. While a little of Alannah's background was revealed more could been written. I also felt the stories around the sunken vessels were to brief and somewhat abrupt.

[Delaney Soliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars | This was a really powerful read. Highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about the oppressive systems of abuse that built early America. This book was a really important reminder of the lessons we can and should take away from the archeological remains of that dark chapter of American history.

[Esther Dushinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Shaheryar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the slave trade spanning across hundreds of years and the eventual abolitionist movement.

[Aurelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece.
A different point of view: History is being told and rewritten through the scope of sunken slave ships.
It takes you on a global journey and allows you to discover more extensively the past of some of these horror ships. From the first ships to what may be the last, including the path to freedom through the Underground Railroad, nothing is forgotten.
Absolutely brilliant. You go through a kaleidoscope of emotions: hurt, horror, disgust, hope, joy, pride.
A must-read if you want a new perspective on this horrible part of Human History.