We often recall ships like the Titanic, the Mayflower, and the Santa Maria, which have become vessels of tragedy, exploration, or conquest. Their names etched into our collective memory, taught in schools, and immortalized in movies and literature. Yet, the names of the thousands of ships that brought millions of Africans into slavery across the Atlantic are virtually obscure to the public. These ships were part of a massive and violent system that forced over 12 million people to move from Africa to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, a comprehensive digital archive, documents nearly 36,000 voyages that transported enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. Each entry provides details about the ship, its voyage, and the number of people transported. Despite this wealth of information, the names of these ships are seldom recognized or remembered. Ships like the Roe, which made four voyages transporting enslaved people between 1801 and 1808, or the Iris, which completed eight such voyages between 1783 and 1800, are known primarily to historians and researchers.

But ships, somehow, remain nameless in the Black memory. Their silhouettes appear in paintings, documentaries, and museum exhibitions, yet few people can name even three of the ships that transported their forefathers. We recognize the name Titanic, but not Diligence, Vulture, Martha, or Iris, all of which were real ships that performed slave runs between West Africa and the Americas. This is something Tara Roberts, a National Geographic Explorer and author, powerfully pointed out  in her conversation with Yara Shahidi on the Optimist podcast: we can all name the Mayflower or the Titanic, but not the thousands of ships that trafficked Africans across oceans, or the 1.8 million people who died before ever reaching shore. That amnesia is not accidental. It is a product of centuries of silencing and reshaping, until only the destinations and the outcomes—arrival, enslavement, and survival—are remembered, while the vessels that carried so much suffering remain shadows.

The Parr, launched in 1797, was Liverpool's largest slave ship, capable of carrying up to 700 captives. It was lost in an explosion on its first voyage, killing many of those on board. The Martha, launched in 1788, made eleven voyages transporting enslaved people and was involved in violent actions to force lower prices for captives. These ships played crucial roles in the transatlantic slave trade, yet their stories remain largely untold.

Written in the Waters, Tara Roberts memoir, recounts her journey tracing the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by Black scuba divers exploring sunken slave ships, she joined the group Diving With a Purpose to uncover and document these submerged histories. Her work highlights the importance of remembering and honoring the lives lost during the Middle Passage.

The Middle Passage was a perilous journey for the enslaved Africans, with an estimated 1.8 million dying during the voyage due to harsh conditions, sickness, and torture. The ships that carried them were often overcrowded, with little concern for the captives' well-being. The Diligence, for instance, made three voyages carrying enslaved people before being wrecked in 1804. The Vulture, captured in 1795, had made ten such voyages before its capture. These ships were instruments of agony, yet their names and tales are seldom mentioned.

The erasure of these ships from public memory is part of a larger trend of ignoring the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. While monuments and museums commemorate other historical events, the legacy of the slave trade is sometimes overlooked. Recognizing and remembering the names of these ships is an important step towards understanding the full scale of this dark chapter in history.

Efforts to bring these stories to light are crucial. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database is an invaluable resource for researchers and the general public, providing detailed information about the voyages and the people involved. Exploring this database allows us to learn about the ships, their routes, and the individuals that were forcibly transported. This information helps us grasp the scale and impact of the slave trade.

Remembering the names of these ships is not just about honoring the past; it’s about recognizing the enduring legacy of slavery and its impact on the present. The stories of the Roe, Iris, Parr, Martha, Diligence, and Vulture remind us of the human cost of the transatlantic slave trade. By bringing these names to light, we pay tribute to the millions who suffered and died during this period.

As we continue to confront the history of slavery, we must include the stories of these ships and the people they transported. Their stories are integral to understanding the full scope of the transatlantic slave trade and its lasting effects. By acknowledging and remembering these vessels, we begin a more thorough and honest reckoning of this dark age.