AZUL, Alexandra T. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Atty. Charlton Jules P.

Romero
Property - 2C ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ September 3,
2020

A Reflection on AMISTAD

​Steven Spielberg’s Amistad (1997) is a historical drama that was inspired by the
case United States vs The Amistad, 40 US 518 (1841). The movie portrayed the
harrowing truth about transatlantic slave trade through the story of about 40 Africans who
were ripped off their liberty, and how they fought in court to regain their freedom. This
case was instrumental in the abolitionist movement of the United States of America.
In the movie, various claims were set forth before the court by contending parties
during the start of the trial. United States Attorney Holabird charged the defendants with
piracy and murder. The Secretary of State, Forsyth, on behalf of US President Van Buren,
also represented a claim of the Spanish royal government that the Africans were property
of Spain, based on a treaty. Moreover, Naval officers Gedney and Meade, who captured
the vessel carrying the defendants, claimed the Africans as part of their salvage. Lastly,
Spanish navigators who were originally part of the La Amistad schooner also claimed
ownership over the defendants, evidenced by a proof of purchase.
The underlying assumption of these claims or conflicting rights is that the parties
deem the defendants as mere objects or property that may be owned and bargained away.
This is the horror of slavery. Even the counsel who represented the defendants in the film,
Attorney Baldwin, initially saw his clients’ case as simply an issue of property. Later in
the movie, though, they came to see the defendants as human beings that are entitled to
freedom and equality, which are inherent in every individual, regardless of race.
After much reflection on this provoking film, one thing I noticed was how far
humanity’s laws on property have come and progressed. It was not too long ago when
societies and laws condoned and legitimized slavery. In many parts of the world, human
beings were being treated like properties that can be stolen, controlled, and disposed of.
Over the years, our perception of the human being has evolved and was elevated--
we no longer see people as mere livestock (as referred to in the movie) that can be objects
of a sale. With these ideological advancements, the laws were humanized. It began to
consider human beings as individuals superior over animals and things. Furthemore,
liberty and equality which humans are entitled to, were accorded to them. Slavery and
involuntary servitude were abolished and outlawed, and the oppressed were emancipated
from their bondage.
While it is unfortunate that there still exists racism today and other similar issues
such as human trafficking and involuntary servitude, it does not invalidate the fact that
we have come a long way with regards to how our laws, especially on property, perceive
the human being. The movie Amistad is relevant to this day. As a sociologist and an
aspiring lawyer, it rekindled in me the fire of compassion and justice, that is the very
essence of our legal system.