The Last American Slave Ship
Nat Geo’s, “CLOTILDA: THE RETURN HOME” chronicles the account of two survivors of the last American slave ship, Cudjo Lewis and Gumpa Lee, who dreamed of returning to their ancestral home over 150 years ago. Today, their descendants are fulfilling that dream, and National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts, whose work shines a light on the origin stories of Africans in the Americas, joins them on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
The Clotilda holds a significant place in American history as the last known slave ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States. In 1860, this ship illegally transported 110 Africans to Alabama, despite the ban on importing slaves since 1808. To conceal this crime, the ship was burned after delivering its human cargo. The descendants of these Africans founded Africatown in Alabama, a community that continues to honor their heritage and resilience. The discovery of the Clotilda’s wreck in 2019 shed light on this dark chapter in American history, bringing renewed attention to its significance.
As we approach Juneteenth, a day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, the story of the Clotilda resonates deeply. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Clotilda’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of slavery and the importance of acknowledging and honoring the resilience and history of African American communities.
