Africatown, located in Mobile, Alabama, is home to a powerful piece of American history. This small neighborhood holds the legacy of the Clotilda, the last documented slave ship to arrive in the United States. Though the ship remains hidden beneath the Mobile Delta waters, its story lives on through the descendants of the Africans who were forcibly brought to America aboard it.
The Legacy of the Clotilda and Africatown
Africatown became a haven for the Clotilda survivors, who established a community where they could continue practicing their African traditions despite their forced arrival. Many of them were later buried in the Africatown Cemetery, including Cudjo Kazoola Lewis, one of the last known survivors.
Even today, Africatown looks like an ordinary, quiet neighborhood, but its rich cultural heritage remains an essential part of Mobile’s history.
Watch the Story of Africatown on Netflix
The incredible history of Africatown and the Clotilda is explored in the 2022 documentary film “Descendant”, available on Netflix. The film, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, was shortlisted for the 2023 Academy Awards.
Explore Africatown’s History and Culture
If you’re interested in learning more about the Clotilda and Africatown, check out these books:
📖 “Barracoon: The Story of the Last ‘Black Cargo’” by Zora Neale Hurston
👉 [Get it on Amazon] Here’s a link for the same book adapted for young readers.
Visit Africatown Today
If you’re in Mobile, Alabama, consider visiting Africatown Heritage House, which showcases artifacts and stories of the Clotilda and its survivors.
The Amazon links in this article are affiliate links. Were you to purchase something, a few cents will go towards supporting this site.
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