Alain Herriott

Africatown, also known as AfricaTown USA or Plateau, is a historic community north of downtown Mobile, Alabama. It was established by a group of 32 West Africans who were brought to the United States in 1860 on the Clotilda, the last known illegal slave shipment. Despite the Atlantic slave trade being banned in 1808, these individuals were smuggled into Mobile. Many of the enslaved people were believed to be of Yoruba, Ewe, and Fon ethnicities, and they founded their own community, retaining many of their West African customs and languages into the 1950s. Cudjo Kazoola Lewis, a founder, lived until 1935 and was long considered the last survivor of the Clotilda slaves in Africatown. Research has since identified Redoshi (Sally Smith) who lived until 1937, and Matilda McCrear who died in 1940, as later survivors.

The community faced decline from a peak population in the 20th century but remains a significant site for African American heritage. In 2009, it was added to Mobile's African American Heritage Trail, and the Africatown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Descendants of the Clotilda's passengers continue to live in the area and across the country. The history of Africatown is deeply tied to the resilience of its founders, who preserved their cultural identity despite the trauma of enslavement and the subsequent challenges of building a new life.

Africatown was founded by 32 West Africans who survived the illegal 1860 voyage of the Clotilda, the final known slave ship to reach the United States. These individuals, believed to be primarily from Yoruba, Ewe, and Fon ethnic groups, were brought against their will, despite the U.S. ban on the slave trade since 1808. After emancipation, they coalesced to form their own community, seeking to live independently and preserve their cultural heritage. They successfully maintained many of their West African customs and languages well into the 1950s, while also integrating English. Key figures like Cudjo Kazoola Lewis played a vital role in the community, serving as a spokesman and helping others adapt to their new environment. The community established its own church and cemetery, demonstrating a strong commitment to self-governance and cultural continuity.

The Clotilda's journey in 1860 represented a clandestine operation by wealthy Mobile individuals who wagered they could circumvent federal law. Timothy Meaher, a shipbuilder, financed the voyage of his ship, the Clotilda, to the Kingdom of Dahomey to acquire enslaved Africans. Captain William Foster loaded 110 individuals, reportedly of the Takpa people, onto the ship. Upon arrival in Mobile, the Clotilda was set ablaze and scuttled to conceal the illicit cargo and the crime. The survivors were then distributed among the investors. The legal repercussions for the Meaher brothers and their associates were minimal, as the case was dismissed, possibly due to the onset of the Civil War and lack of evidence. The story of the Clotilda and its passengers highlights a dark chapter in American history, marked by defiance of law and profound human suffering.

For many years, Cudjo Kazoola Lewis was believed to be the last surviving passenger from the Clotilda, living until 1935. His accounts were crucial for early chroniclers of Africatown's history, including writers like Emma Langdon Roche and Zora Neale Hurston, whose posthumously published work 'Barracoon: The Story of the Last 'Black Cargo'' documented his experiences. However, later research has revised this understanding. In 2019, scholar Hannah Durkin identified Redoshi (also known as Sally Smith), who lived until 1937, as a potential last survivor. Further research by Durkin indicated that Matilda McCrear may have outlived both, passing away in 1940. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing historical investigation in uncovering the full narratives of those affected by the transatlantic slave trade.