Ep 1. Cultures Left Behind

Enslaved Season 1 Episode 1, titled Cultures Left Behind, is a historical documentary series hosted by Samuel L. Jackson. The episode explores the devastating impact of the transatlantic slave trade on three continents over more than 400 years.

The episode begins by setting the stage for the transatlantic slave trade and how it brought enslaved Africans from West Africa to the Americas. It highlights that Europeans were not the only ones responsible for the slave trade, as they were aided by Africans who were willing to sell their fellow Africans into servitude. The episode also examines how slavery was justified through religious and scientific arguments of the time.

The focus then shifts to the story of a slave ship called the Henrietta Marie that sank near the coast of Florida in 1700 with more than 190 Africans on board. The episode highlights how the ship was discovered and provides insight into the conditions aboard the vessel. The episode examines how the slave trade distorted the lives and cultures of these African people.

To further the examination of how the slave trade distorted the cultures of Africa, the episode delves deep into the story of Queen Nzinga of the Ndongo Kingdom. The episode explores how she tried to save her people from the slave trade through various political maneuvers, including forming an alliance with the Portuguese, forming a peace treaty with the Dutch, and eventually leading her people to safety in the neighboring kingdom of Matamba.

The episode also delves into the story of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. It shows how one of the main reasons he was so successful was due to the connection he had with his fellow enslaved Africans. The episode explores how he stuck to his morals and vision which allowed him to partner with others, leading to the creation of a movement which would eventually lead to his success as a free man in Haiti.

The episode also provides an insight into how some of the slave owners were African-Americans themselves. They too had been kidnapped, sold and enslaved. Therefore these powerful new roles in slave ownership allowed them to escape enslavement and allowed them to achieve a status and gain wealth that would not have otherwise been available.

It begins by revealing the history of the transatlantic slave trade, the scale at which it took place and how it shaped the modern world as we see it today. The episode takes a deep dive into the Henrietta Marie, that sank down off the coast of Florida - its discovery and offers a bleak picture of what life was like as an enslaved African then.

Samuel L Jackson, who hosts the show, is presented in the episode as he visits the Henrietta Marie exhibit at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida and speaks with diver Mike Barnett, who discovered the sunken ship. In the episode, Samuel L Jackson discusses how this exhibit highlights a human tragedy and the importance of preserving history.

Overall, Enslaved Season 1 Episode 1 is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the impact of the transatlantic slave trade and how it has distorted African cultures and societies. It provides insight into the lives of enslaved Africans, their struggles, and the heroes who fought to end slavery and bring freedom to their people. The episode highlights the importance of education and knowledge of history to prevent such past injustices persisting into the present time.