Joseph Cinqué was a West African man who became known for leading a famous slave revolt aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad in 1839. Born in what is now Sierra Leone, he was captured and sold into slavery. Cinqué and other enslaved individuals took control of the ship, demanding to be returned to Africa. The revolt led to a legal battle in the United States, where the case was taken to the Supreme Court. In 1841, the court ruled in favor of Cinqué and the other captives, allowing them to return home. This case highlighted issues of slavery and human rights in America.