The Guerrero Project” blends the tragic story of a sunken slave ship with modern-day marine expeditions, heated archaeological debate and gritty emotions concerning today’s race relations in America.

In 1827 the pirate Spanish slave ship Guerrero sank off the coast of Florida while being pursued by a British warship. Through rough weather, cannon fire and deception began a three-year saga involving 561 captive Africans that included five nations. Now as expeditions compete to locate the ship's remains, "The Guerrero Project" dives headfirst into this lost piece of history and explores the questions — why does anyone want to find this ship? What implications does this ship's history have on all of us today?

     For almost two centuries, the troubling and engaging stories of those aboard the Guerrero never reached beyond a few pages in obscure historical accounts — until now. The tale of the Guerrero and the modern-day search has been captured by Black Bay Entertainment. The feature-length documentary fuses history, intense emotions, natural beauty and marine expeditions to propel viewers through this tale of loss and help make the significance of the Guerrero accessible to a broad audience.

Narrated by: James Avery.

“The Guerrero will help fill in another blank in the while story of Atlantic slavery. This story must be told and become a part of the lexicon of American history.” 

        - William D. Pinkney, Former Master Amistad Freedom Schooner

“This is a truly momentous exploration and educational endeavor.”

        - Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Harvard University

“The cultural and historical significance of this find is inestimable. The story of the Guerrero is one that needs to be told.”

        - Kweisi Mfume, past president and CEO NAACP

“We believe that respectfully preserving and accessing history opens the doors to the annals of time, which helps us all to appreciate the story, sacrifices and challenges of the human race.”

        - William A. Murrain, past president National Association of Black Scuba Divers

Documentary includes:

1. •Gail Swanson, Guerrero historian,
   

2. •Capt. William “Bill” Pinkney, Former Master, Amistad
   

3. •Gene Tinnie, Co-Director Dos Amigos/Fair Rosamond Middle Passage Ship Replica Project
   

4. •National Association of Black Scuba Divers,
   

5. •Denis Trelewicz, expedition leader
   

6. •Brenda Lazendorf, Biscayne National Park archaeologist
   

          David Score, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

1. •Jerry Wilkenson, President Florida Keys Historical Society
   

2. •Capt. Carl Fismer, expedition leader
   

3. •Dr. R. Duncan Mathewson III, Nat’l Center for Shipwreck Research
   

4. •Jack Haskins, leading maritime historian
   

5. •Tennessee Aquatic Project
   

Gene Lyon, Ph.D., maritime historian