February is Black History Month. The annual observance originated in the United States, and is spreading to other countries as well. As part of the observance Strider chose to share the story of the Amistad Case. The Supreme Court's ruling was not only monumental to the fate those tragically involved, but that of the entire United States.
The protagonist Sengbe Pieh, otherwise known as Joesph Cinque sums up why it is important to look back at even the most tragic chapters of humanity's past, "I meant my ancestors. I will call into the past. Far back to the beginning of time and beg them to come and help me at the judgment. I will reach back and draw them into me and they must come. For at this moment I am the whole reason they have existed at all."
We have the ingredients to be good to our fellow man.
Sources: History.com Amistad Case, Wikipedia.org, imdb.com, Reuters.com, Thoughtco.com “Events and Legacy of the Amistad Case of 1840” by Robert Longley 'Amistad' Film. Steven Spielberg 1997