Rosie, an enslaved African child

I was put on a boat and brought to New Amsterdam with my family. I used to live in West Africa. I was happy there and lived there with my Grandma and Grandpa and my mom and dad and brother and sister. When we were put on the ship, we had to say good-bye to my grandparents.

The boat ride to New Amsterdam was very crowded. There were a lot of people and even thought it was a very big boat it felt a little bit small. I felt scared because it was my first time on a boat. The boat looked new, but on the inside it was very old. On the boat I played with toys, games, sang songs. I slept and ate good food.

When I arrived in New Amsterdam, I felt confused. There were so many new people. I saw farms, lots of people and strange animals. I heard different languages. I felt nervous. I ran to my mom and hugged her. She said, “It’s ok. You don’t have to be nervous.”