ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Curiosity Stream The Illegal Arrival of America’s Last Slave Ship
The Clotilda was the last ship to illegally bring enslaved Africans to the United States, arriving in Alabama in 1860. Today, some people can trace their ancestry back to those who survived this traumatic journey.
Joycelyn Davis is a direct descendant of Charlie Lewis, one of the Clotilda survivors. Darren Patterson shares his roots with Mary Allen, his great-grandmother, who was the daughter of Polly Allen. Both Joycelyn and Darren are among the few African Americans who know the stories of their enslaved ancestors.
The Clotilda survivors came from present-day Benin, a West African nation once ruled by the Dahomey kingdom. During a time of intense tribal warfare, the Dahomey tribe captured and sold members of the Aruban tribe to slave traders. Although the transatlantic slave trade was banned 50 years before the Civil War ended slavery in America, the Clotilda’s owner, Timothy Mayer, ignored the law. Mayer sent the Clotilda to West Africa, believing he could evade capture.
After its illegal journey, Mayer burned and sank the Clotilda in the Mobile River to hide his crime. For years, the ship’s existence was questioned due to the lack of physical evidence. However, documents like the captain’s logs confirmed its story. Journalist Ben Raines, familiar with the Mobile River area, decided to search for the ship. After a systematic search, he found a piece of the ship, marking the first time the Clotilda had been seen in over 160 years.
The Clotilda’s passengers endured a 45-day ocean crossing, during which two people died. Upon arrival in Alabama, they were hidden in a swamp before being sold to plantations. The enslaved individuals spoke no English, which led to misconceptions about their intelligence. Stripped of their clothing, they faced harsh treatment and cultural misunderstandings.
Five years after their arrival, slavery was abolished. The Clotilda’s survivors formed a community in Alabama called African Town. This unique immigrant community was established by the descendants of those brought on the Clotilda. By 1900, African Town was the fourth largest African American community in the U.S., thriving with businesses and services. However, by the 1960s, industrial expansion and a new highway disrupted the community.
The descendants of the Clotilda want to share their history and hope the discovery of the ship will help them do so. They advocate for the ship to be excavated, preserved, and displayed in African Town, now part of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail. Remembering this history is crucial, as it highlights the resilience of those who endured such hardships and their desire to return to Africa.
Research the stories of Joycelyn Davis and Darren Patterson, descendants of Clotilda survivors. Create a presentation that explores their family histories and the impact of knowing one’s ancestry. Discuss how these stories contribute to our understanding of history and identity.
Create a detailed map tracing the Clotilda’s journey from Benin to Alabama. Include key locations and events, such as the Dahomey kingdom and the Mobile River. Present your map to the class and explain the significance of each point on the journey.
Engage in a class debate on whether the Clotilda should be excavated and displayed. Consider the ethical, historical, and cultural implications. Prepare arguments for both sides and participate in a structured debate to explore different perspectives.
Develop a timeline that outlines the key events related to the Clotilda, from its illegal voyage to the present-day efforts to preserve its history. Use visuals and descriptions to highlight the timeline’s major milestones and their significance.
Write a reflective essay on the resilience of the Clotilda’s survivors and their descendants. Discuss how their story of survival and community-building in African Town inspires modern efforts to preserve history and promote cultural understanding.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music] The Clotilda, the final ship to transport enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the United States, arrived illegally on the shores of Alabama in 1860. Today, there are living descendants who can trace their ancestry back to those who survived the harrowing journey.
[Music] My name is Joycelyn Davis, and I am a direct descendant of Charlie Lewis, one of the survivors of the Clotilda. I am a sixth-generation descendant.
My name is Darren Patterson, and we are sitting here at my great-grandmother’s house, Mary Allen, who was the daughter of Polly Allen. This is where I’m from; this is my home.
Joycelyn and Darren are among a small group of African Americans alive today who know the details of their enslaved ancestors’ experiences. Sadly, the experience itself was commonplace, as twelve and a half million Africans were deported through the transatlantic slave trade to the Americas.
There are many people here whose families embraced this history, but I wasn’t one of those people. I wish I had known; I probably would have embraced that. The Clotilda survivors’ lineage can be traced back to present-day Benin, a West African nation formerly ruled by the powerful Dahomey kingdom during a tumultuous time of great tribal warfare. The Dahomey tribe, known for their Amazon fighting group, enslaved my people, the Aruban tribe, and sold them to wealthy slave owners who took advantage of the discord in West Africa.
The transatlantic slave trade was outlawed 50 years before the Civil War ended slavery in America, but that didn’t stop the Clotilda. It was owned by a wealthy slave owner named Timothy Mayer, who believed he could operate outside the law. Mayer, a shipyard owner, sent the two-masted schooner Clotilda across the ocean to West Africa.
Although it is widely known that Mayer burned and sank the Clotilda somewhere along the Mobile River, it had never been found. The absence of evidence has led some to deny the ship’s existence. People have claimed that without physical proof, it must not be real. However, there is substantial documentation, including the captain’s logs, that supports the story.
Journalist Ben Raines, familiar with the swamps and rivers around Mobile, decided to search for the ship himself. As an investigative reporter, he was intrigued by the mystery that had never been solved. He initially kept his search a secret from his editors, fearing they would think he sounded crazy.
Raines discovered many sunken ships in the Mobile River and found one that provided false hope. He then conducted a systematic search, completing the first survey of that section of the river. When a sonar scan revealed something that looked like a large object, Raines jumped in to investigate.
He began pulling up logs and, after feeling something unusual underfoot, discovered a piece of wrought iron. He dove down and surfaced holding a plank of a ship with square handmade nails, confirming it was from the 1850s. This marked the first time the Clotilda had been seen in over 160 years.
After enduring the horrors of a 45-day ocean crossing, during which two people died, the Clotilda’s passengers arrived in Alabama, only to be offloaded into a Delta swamp where they were forced to hide without clothing for days while their sale was arranged. Eventually, they were split up between three plantations.
The treatment of enslaved individuals as cargo highlights the harsh realities of slavery. The Clotilda’s passengers spoke no English, which contributed to the myth that they were unintelligent. It was customary to strip people of their clothing on slave ships, leading to misconceptions about their cultural practices.
Just five years later, slavery was abolished with the end of the Civil War, leaving the Clotilda’s passengers on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Once freed, they reconstituted their families and gradually purchased land, recreating a sense of community in Alabama, which they named African Town.
African Town is one of the first immigrant communities in the U.S. and is unique as it was established by the descendants of those abducted on the Clotilda. This community is significant in American history, as they embraced their African identity despite the negative connotations associated with it.
By 1900, African Town was the fourth largest African American community in the United States. It thrived as a self-sufficient community with stores, barbershops, doctors’ offices, and a post office. However, by the 1960s, African Town began to decline as industry encroached upon the neighborhood, and the City of Mobile constructed a highway that disrupted the community.
The descendants of the Clotilda want to share their history and hope the discovery of the ship can help them do so. They believe this is an opportunity that should not be missed. They advocate for the ship to be excavated, preserved, and displayed in African Town, which is now part of the Alabama Civil Rights Trail.
Many people are unaware of this history and would embrace the knowledge. For the descendants, it is crucial to remember that their ancestors wanted to return to Africa as soon as they arrived in America and continued to desire this throughout their lives. It is essential to ensure that the world never forgets how this all happened.
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This version maintains the core information while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language.
Clotilda – The last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States, arriving in Alabama in 1860. – The discovery of the Clotilda’s remains provided crucial insights into the illegal slave trade that persisted even after it was banned.
Slavery – A system in which individuals are owned by others, deprived of personal freedom, and forced to perform labor or services. – The abolition of slavery in the United States was a pivotal moment in the nation’s history, leading to significant social and political changes.
Ancestors – Individuals from whom one is descended, often referring to those who lived in the distant past. – Many people research their ancestors to better understand their family history and cultural heritage.
Community – A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common, often sharing cultural, social, or economic ties. – The Civil Rights Movement was greatly supported by the African American community, who sought equality and justice.
Africa – The second-largest continent, known for its diverse cultures, languages, and histories, and the origin of many enslaved people brought to the Americas. – Africa’s rich history includes ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mali, which have significantly influenced global culture and knowledge.
Alabama – A state in the southeastern United States, significant in American history for its role in the Civil Rights Movement and as the landing site of the Clotilda. – Alabama was the site of pivotal events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery marches.
Descendants – Individuals who are the offspring of a particular ancestor or group of ancestors, often several generations removed. – The descendants of those who arrived on the Clotilda have worked to preserve their unique cultural heritage and history.
Trade – The action of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services between people or countries. – The transatlantic slave trade was a devastating period in history that forcibly displaced millions of Africans to the Americas.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on how they shape the present and future. – Understanding history is crucial for learning from past mistakes and making informed decisions in the present.
Evidence – Information or facts that help to prove or disprove something, often used in historical research to support conclusions. – Archaeologists found evidence of ancient settlements that provided new insights into early human civilizations.
