July 8, 2024

Learn about the slave ship Clotilda.

Take Action

• Watch this video to learn about the cultural culinary practices from Africatown.

• Hear directly from descendants of survivors of Clotilda about Africatown.

• Read Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", a book by Zora Neale Hurston, based on her interviews with Oluale Kossola, one of the then-last living survivors of the Clotilda.

Get Educated

The Clotilda was the last known ship to transport enslaved Africans to the United States. It arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in 1860 with 109 enslaved Africans, more than 50 years after the “importation” of enslaved people was banned in 1807 (History). The ship's illegal voyage was led by Timothy Meaher, a wealthy Alabama businessman who made a bet that he could successfully smuggle enslaved people into the country without being caught.

After arriving, the Clotilda's captain, William Foster, burned and sunk the ship in the Mobile River to destroy evidence of the crime. But Meaher, Foster, and others involved were tried but never convicted in 1861 for illegally trafficking African people into the country (NMAAHC). No one was held accountable – nor was any plan instated to return these people back to Western Africa.

Once the Civil War ended and slavery was abolished, the people from the Clotilda ship were freed. They created their own community on a five-mile stretch of that same land, a place that came to be known as “Africatown.” This became one of many thriving, operational towns led by formerly enslaved Black people. However, Africatown was unique because its residents had a much more direct connection to Africa than most enslaved people during this time (Smithsonian). Therefore, the city was deeply modeled on the cultural and community practices of the diaspora, not the exploitative models we’re familiar with in the states’ capitalistic society. At its peak, over 10,000 people lived there (NPR). This town has helped keep the stories of those enslaved alive, passed down through generations, maintaining the legacy and memory of those who endured the Clotilda's journey.

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This story gained national attention in 2019 when researchers discovered the remains of Clotilda underwater. This discovery resulted from efforts by historians, archaeologists, and researchers who used modern technology and historical data to locate the sunken vessel, which was well preserved in the muddy water despite being burned. Some remains are on display at the Africatown Heritage House, a museum that opened in 2023 to help ensure the story isn’t lost again.

Today, most of the land in and around Africatown is still owned by the Meaher family, who holds considerable power in the city. Some descendants have expressed that this may intimidate more people from sharing their connection to Clotilda and its survivors (NPR). And with the rise of book bannings and conservative challenges on whether or not stories of slavery are true, the story of the Clotilda could be intentionally erased. It’s an opportunity to spark discussion for education and reflection on the impacts of slavery, racism, and injustice and highlight the importance of preserving spaces that foster a deep sense of safety and belonging.

Key Takeaways

• The Clotilda, arriving in 1860, was the last known ship to illegally transport enslaved Africans to the U.S. despite a ban on “importing” enslaved people.

• Africatown, established by the freed survivors of the Clotilda, became a unique community deeply rooted in African cultural practices, differentiating it from other towns formed post-slavery.

• The discovery of the Clotilda's remains in 2019 has reinvigorated interest and efforts in preserving the legacy of its survivors, amidst contemporary challenges of land ownership disputes and the risk of historical erasure from public discourse.