This is the one scene that makes the entire series: Jack freed slaves, making him a criminal.

The way the line “People aren’t cargo, mate” was said, really good acting. Captain Jack Sparrow looks up a little bit with a look of both anger annoyance, and his tone is a bit bitter. He literally stops what he’s doing just to rethink what he did in the past, and he doesn’t regret it. He is a pirate and he’s proud of it. He has got to be one of the best pirates I’ve ever seen.

This movie was way too long as it was, but I still wish they'd kept this scene. I know part of Jack's appeal is that he's kind of morally ambiguous, but his quiet and subdued "People aren't cargo, mate," could have been the perfect and simplest way to show the viewers exactly the kind of person he truly is. He puts on a goofy, carefree facade, but in the end he's got a good heart that cares about other people. I wish they'd taken the extra moment to show that.

Another reason why this scene should have been kept is because in the end of Dead Mans Chest when the crew go see Tia Dalma you see a lot of people holding candles in the swamp and mourning Jacks death. They were the slaves that he freed. It used to confuse me for years until I found out about this deleted scene.

“People aren’t cargo, mate.” I love that line so much as it shows of what a great person Jack Sparrow truly is by freeing slaves

"What the Black Pearl really is, is freedom."

This scene tells us so much more than the final cut did, and should have been kept. "People aren't cargo, mate" is one of the most important lines ever to be spoken by him because it not only shows Jack's true character that we rarely get to see, but it explains so much about his past and their relationship together and does it in such a small space. Rather than being vague about it like in the final cut, that line says exactly what it means and makes it all the more powerful in contrast to the innuendous and fakely formal conversation they have for the rest of the scene.

The scene was deleted because it removes any lingering doubt of Jack's self-serving nature. It was important for the narrative that Jack could cross anyone at any time and serve himself. While the reason why he became a pirate is very cool, it screws up the rest of the film because it becomes clear that he's a good, self-sacrificing soul. That he would give up what he craves most, immortality, for Will Turner, without too much hesitation. That's why it had to be cut, sadly.

Their feud is very interesting if you read the website bios of these characters. Beckett was obsessed with becoming an elite, he wanted to get the title of “lord”. He worked in logistics for the West African branch of the EIC for over 10 years, and a lord living in the Bahamas promised him land and titles in exchange for slaves. Beckett contracted Jack to deliver the slaves, but Jack liberated them, preventing Beckett from becoming a lord. As payback, Beckett permanently branded Jack as a pirate and burned Jack’s ship, the Wicked Wench, turning the sails black and the hull charcoal. When Jones recreated it, it was rebranded the Black Pearl.

i dont understand why this scene was deleted it was so much better then the final cut and even shows the relationship between jack and becket

I really wish this scene had been kept. Gained a whole new LEVEL of respect for jack with those 4 words.

One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness

"People aren't cargo, mate."

"Your good deed cost me, Jack."

"People aren't cargo mate"

"People arn't cargo, mate."

Jack and Beckett have a deep history. Jack was suppose to deliver a cargo (of 100 slaves) to becket from Africa but he chose to free them instead and in return, Beckett burned Jack's ship, The Pearl, and branded him as a pirate. Jack asked Davy Jone to bring back his ship. Jones agreed for 100 souls (referring to the 100 ones he sent free). That's why Jack owes Jones 100 soul (said in the second movie) and why in their scene they showed his brand at

You can really see the hurt in Jack’s eyes and sadness in his voice when he says “People aren’t cargo, mate.” He doesn’t regret freeing the slaves. I always hated Beckett, but I hated him even more when he referred to people as ‘cargo.’

Everyone's talking about that 4 word line, meanwhile I'm just so absorbed in how Jack keeps trying to steal every ounce of alcohol in the room.

This scene DESPERATELY needed to be in the movie. For as much as people like the fact that it adds the depth to Jack's character, this really provides a lot for Beckett. You see how his mind works, and that he demands control over the situation, because his life is all about maintaining order. He thinks people are simply subjects to be manipulated and contented with goods and services. He's more than willing to play the role of the puppetmaster. But the second he loses control of the situation, i.e. when Jack liberated those slaves, he lost control and it drove him to hunt Jack down.