Super Short Summary

Feeding the Ghosts by Fred D'Aguiar recounts the harrowing journey of the slave ship Zong in 1781, focusing on the brutal decision by Captain Cunningham to throw sick slaves overboard to claim insurance. First Mate Kelsal reluctantly oversees these actions until a female slave named Mintah, who survives being thrown overboard, leads a brief revolt that shifts the crew’s stance. Upon reaching England, the crew is tried not for murder but for insurance fraud, and despite Mintah's journal exposing the atrocities, they are exonerated. The novel concludes with Mintah's life post-slavery, highlighting her role in the fight for freedom and the enduring legacy of the Zong's ghosts. The book discusses the inhumane treatment of enslaved individuals including physical violence, drowning, and extreme brutality.