Recovering Black Mariners in the Atlantic World with Mary Hicks

For centuries, Black mariners plied the waters of the Atlantic world. From the decks of ships that traversed vast distances between Brazil, Portugal, West Africa, and beyond, through dangerous swells and past enemy fleets, enslaved seamen connected continents as they labored for the Portuguese Empire in the Age of Revolutions. Despite their enslavement, they made a world that was their own.

In this episode, Dr. Jim Ambuske talks with historian Mary Hicks, Ph.D, about these "captive cosmopolitans," who traded goods on their own accounts, infused Brazil with West African religions, foods, and fashions, and used Royal edicts pronounced in Lisbon to argue for their freedom.

Hosted by Dr. Jim Ambuske. Executive producers are Dr. Lynn Price Robbins, Jeanette Patrick, and Patrick Long. Audio and video editing by Patrick Long.
Revolutions in Retrospect is a joint production of Primary Source Media and Revolutionary Histories.

Learn More:
Mary Hicks, University of Chicago https://history.uchicago.edu/directory/mary-hicks
Purchase Captive Cosmopolitans: Black Mariners and the World of South Atlantic Slavery 2024) at https://bookshop.org/shop/RevolutionaryHistories

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