On February 6, 1820, a contingent of 88 free Black individuals embarked on a journey to the British colony of Sierra Leone aboard a vessel known as the Mayflower of Liberia.
Financed by the U.S. Congress and coordinated by the American Colonization Society, a Quaker group, this endeavor was driven by the belief among many Quakers that Africa provided a more conducive environment for African Americans to prosper, viewing full integration into American society as unattainable.
Arriving safely at Sherbro Island, off the coast of Sierra Leone, on March 9, the group unfortunately faced significant casualties due to malaria.
The concept of establishing an African-American colony in West Africa regained momentum in 1821, when a U.S. Navy vessel journeyed to Liberia in pursuit of suitable land for settlement.
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