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Many enslaved Africans lost their lives during the treacherous journey across the Atlantic, as they were crammed into the holds of ships in inhumane conditions. Countless people died from diseases such as dysentery, smallpox, and measles, which spread rapidly in the cramped and unsanitary conditions. Lack of food and water, coupled with extreme physical and emotional abuse, also contributed to the loss of thousands of lives. We remember those who were thrown overboard or died during the Middle Passage, their bodies lost to the depths of the ocean. We also remember those who survived the journey only to face a lifetime of oppression and brutality in the Americas. May this memorial serve as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a reminder of the atrocities that can result from the greed and inhumanity of others. May we never forget the lives lost and the suffering endured during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

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In the 19th century, Benin was a kingdom in West Africa, as well being an active region in the transatlantic slave trade. It was ruled by the Oba, a monarch with significant political and religious power. The kingdom of Benin also had a very sophisticated system of government, with various officials and councils responsible for different roles.

Sometime after The Vivo left its port in Salvador, the ship arrived in Benin, to collect slaves who had previously been purchased. A total of 308 slaves ended up boarding the ship. Furthermore, there was also a slave Fort in Benin, known as the "Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá," which was a Portuguese fort that served as an important part of the transatlantic slave trade. The fort was located on the coast of Benin and was used to hold enslaved Africans captured by slave traders, with the slaves being kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions, being subject to physical abuse, malnutrition, and disease. Many forms of resistance took place, including uprisings, revolts, and suicide, with many slaves dying in the process.

Before the slave trade, Benin was also known for its art, culture, and religious practices, as the people of Benin had a rich and diverse cultural backround, with traditional beliefs and practices that were influenced by their environment, history, and social organization. The kingdom also had a sophisticated religious system, with various gods and spirits that were worshiped through different rituals and ceremonies.

Benin GDP per capita today: 1,300$

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In the 19th century, Brazil was under a constitutional monarchy, under the rule of Dom Pedro II, with the country still recovering from the wars of independence from Portugal which ended in 1825. Brazil was a major destination for enslaved Africans brought from the African continent ever since Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived in 1500, colonizing the country. The country later developed a large system of plantations, with the labor of the African slaves being used for the production of cash crops such as sugar, coffee, and cotton. Also, many of these enslaved Africans were brought through the port cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, with the Vivo departing from and later arriving in Salvador, Bahia, with 31 slaves dying throughout the journey.

Since Brazil was a major producer of sugar, coffee, and cotton, which were primarily cultivated on plantations in the country, slaves were used to help cultivate such items, experiencing brutal and inhumane treatment upon arrival in such plantations. They were often forced to work long hours in dangerous and harsh conditions, and subject to physical and psychological abuse by their owners, with many also being separated from their families. This all lasted up until slavery was officially abolished in Brazil on May 13, 1888.

Brazil's GDP per capita today: 7,500$

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The 18th century was a time of immense change and progress in Britain. It was known as the Age of Enlightenment, which was a period of intellectual and cultural development that saw the rise of science, philosophy, literature, and the arts.

At this time, Britain was ruled by King George III and was a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system set in place as its government. Apart from that, one of the most significant developments of the 18th century was the Industrial Revolution, which transformed Britain's economy and society by introducing new manufacturing processes and technologies. This also led to the growth of new industries, such as textiles, coal mining, and iron production, and the expansion of cities and towns, such as Liverpool.

Furthermore, the Corker slave ship was a British vessel that primarily engaged in the transatlantic slave trade. With Liverpool being a huge port city and one of the major trading centers in Britain, it ended up being a major port for the slave trade as well. The Vessel set sail for the Gold Coast in Africa, now known as the Republic of Ghana, in 1742.

England's GDP per capita today: 33,000$

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In the 18th century, Barbados was a British colony that relied heavily on the cultivation of sugarcane, which was grown on large plantations on and exported to England, where it was processed in refineries and sold to other countries. It was one of the wealthiest colonies in the Americas due to its large-scale sugar plantations and the use of enslaved Africans as workers. After the Corker arrived in Barbados, to drop off the slaves which they had purchased, a total of 197 slaves ended up leaving the ship, with 43 dying along the journey. These workers experienced brutal conditions, including long hours of labor, physical abuse, and separation from their families and communities. Life on sugar plantations in Barbados was extremely harsh for enslaved Africans. They worked long hours in the hot sun and were often subjected to physical punishment by overseers. Many lived in cramped and unsanitary conditions, with little access to healthcare or basic necessities, with many being subject to disease and malnutrition, with mortality rates being stupendously high.

This lasted up until slavery was officially abolished in Barbados in 1834, following years of resistance and activism by enslaved people and abolitionists.

Barbados GDP per capita today: 17,200$

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The African Gold Coast, also known as Ghana, was a major region of slave trade in West Africa. At the time, the region was inhabited by several ethnic groups, including the Akan people who were dominant in the area. The region had Portuguese, Dutch, and British merchants establishing trade relationships with local leaders, with the trade in gold and other resources, including enslaved Africans, being a significant part of the region's economy.

In terms of the port of destination, it is unclear which specific port the enslaved Africans on the Corker slave ship were taken to, However, many enslaved Africans were captured and held in forts along the coast, including the infamous Cape Coast Castle, which was a British trading post and slave fort. The conditions in the forts were cramped and unsanitary, and many enslaved Africans died from disease and malnutrition before even boarding a ship. In all, a total of 240 slaves ended up boarding the ship.

Before the transatlantic slave trade, the Akan people of the Gold Coast had a rich and complex culture. Religion played an important role in their lives, with a belief in a supreme being and a system of ancestor veneration. The Akan people also had a rich tradition of art, including goldsmithing, weaving, and carving.

Ghana's GDP per capita today: 2,360$

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Throughout the 16th and 17th century, Lisbon, Portugal was a significant hub of global trade and exploration, with Portuguese sailors and traders traveling to and establishing trade relationships with countries around the world. Throughout this time period, Portugal was a monarchy with a strong central government, and Lisbon was the capital city. The country's wealth and power were reliant and based on its overseas colonies and trade networks, with the government heavily investing in exploring and exploiting new territories for resources and economic gain.

As for the Trindad and the NS de Monserrant slave ships, it is important to note that the conditions on board slave ships were notoriously harsh, and many crew members suffered from diseases, injuries, and mental health issues as a result of their work. The enslaved people on board the ship endured even more horrific conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and physical and sexual abuse. The Trinidad transported over 1,100 Africans throughout its 5 voyages, while the NS de Monserrant transported about 389 slaves in its one and only voyage to the Spanish Circum-Caribbean.

Portugal's GDP per capita today: 24,600$

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During the 17th century, West Central Africa (Now modern-day Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo) was a region of active slave trade. European powers, including Portugal and the Netherlands, established trading posts and forts along the coast to purchase enslaved people from local slave merchants, with the Portuguese Slave ship, the NS de Monserrant, embarking a total of 383 of these Enslaved Africans.

These Slave Forts were typically fortified stone structures built to house the enslaved Africans before their transportation to other slave colonies/plantations. The forts were generally overcrowded and unsanitary, and the enslaved people were kept in small, dark rooms or dungeons, often shackled together. Many slaves died from disease, malnutrition, and violence during their time in the forts. Despite the forts being designed to minimize escape or revolt by the enslaved people, many enslaved Africans resisted their capture and transport, and frequently tried to escape, with these acts of resistance often being met with extreme violence and punishment.

Before the slave trade, the people of West Central Africa had diverse cultures and religious practices. The region was home to a variety of kingdoms and societies, each with its own unique traditions and beliefs. Religion played an important role in the lives of many West Central Africans, with a variety of spiritual practices including ancestor worship, divination, and animism. The people of the region also had a rich artistic tradition, including music, dance, sculpture, and textiles.

West Central Africa's ( Angola today ) GDP per capita: 1,950$

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In the 16th and 17th century, Spain controlled many colonies in the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, being known as the Spanish Circum-Caribbean. The Spanish colonies were also involved in the shipment of slaves to other colonies in the Americas. After the NS de Monserrant and the Trindad arrived at the Spanish circum-Caribbean to drop off the slaves which they had purchased, a total of 306 slaves ended up leaving the NS de Monserrant, with 77 dying along the journey, and a total of 287 slaves ended up leaving the Trindad, with 72 dying along the journey. After arriving in these colonies, these enslaved Africans were subject to brutal and inhumane treatment. They were forced to work long hours in harsh conditions, often with little or no pay, and were subject to physical and sexual abuse by their owners. Apart from this, they were also subject to cultural and religious oppression, as their traditional beliefs and practices were suppressed.

Prior to working in such colonies, slaves had to be purchased in order to work under a certain owner, and they were sold at slave markets or auctioned off to the highest bidder. They were inspected and examined by potential buyers, who would examine their teeth, muscles, and other physical attributes. After being sold, plantation life for enslaved Africans was harsh and grueling. They worked long hours in the fields, planting, harvesting, and processing crops ( tobacco, coffee, cotton, and sugar ) which were processed in factories on the plantations and sold to other colonies or to Europe.

Slavery in the Spanish colonies in the Spanish Circum-Caribbean lasted until the early 19th century, with the Spanish government officially abolishing slavery in 1811, although it was not fully enforced until 1886.

Spanish circum-Caribbean ( Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico ) GDP per capita today:

Dominican Republic: 26,400$
Cuba: 9,500$
Puerto Rico: 32,600$

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After the Trinidad left its port in Lisbon in 1585, the ship arrived at the Cape Verde islands, to collect slaves who had previously been purchased, with a total of 359 slaves ending up boarding the ship. At the time, the Cape Verde Islands had become a central trading point for slaves, with up to 3,000 slaves being sold yearly.

The Slave Forts in Cape Verde were similar to those in West Africa, with thick stone walls and cannon ports along the coast. Slave forts were established on the islands, such as the Forte Real de São Felipe on the island of Santiago to house enslaved Africans who were captured and waiting to be sold and shipped to the Americas. Inside, the slaves were kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions, often shackled together. Many people died from disease, malnutrition, and violence during their time in the forts, with many resisting with forms of resistance including rebellion, escape, and even suicide.

Before the arrival of the Portuguese, the Cape Verde Islands were inhabited by various West African ethnic groups, including the Senegambia, the Biafadas, and the Fulani. These groups had their own cultures, religions, and traditions, which included animism, Islam, and Christianity. The islands were also known for their music and dance, with influences from both African and European traditions.

The Cape Verde Islands GDP per capita today: 3,300$