Photo gallery courtesy of Krista Boccio
Article by Dr. Clarence Lusane
On Saturday, April 15, 1848, 77 of DC’s enslaved population secretly boarded The Pearl, a ship docked at the Southwest waterfront. In a daring bid for freedom, these men, women, and children planned to sail North under the guise of darkness. It was thought to be one of the largest slave escape attempt of the era, but bad weather forced the boat to pull over after going about 150 miles. Back in DC, after discovering they were missing, slaveowners secured a fast steamboat and were able to catch The Pearl as it docked. Everyone was captured and brought back to DC; some would be sold and sent to the more brutal southern cotton plantations.
This little known history was commemorated and the 77 passengers and crew celebrated on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Southwest. The church, along with the Pearl Escape Project, which fights to keep the story alive, held a well-attended program that included remarks from descendants of those aboard The Pearl (Craig Galloway, Edwin B. Henderson II, and Melodee Quick), dancers from Richard Wright Public Charter School, a riveting rendition of “Deep River” by vocalist Michele Titi, and a panel of five Howard University students discussing the meaning of The Pearl history and its relevance to today’s issues facing the Black community and the nation. Rev. Brian Hamilton, Westminster pastor and active Pearl Escape Project member, provided closing remarks.
After the program at the church, most of the attendees followed a “second line” of jazz musicians in the short walk of a few blocks to The Wharf on 7th Street SW. In a solemn atmosphere by the dock, green flowers were cast into the water and libation was poured while the names of the 77 Pearl passengers were read.