A new museum dedicated to the history of the Clotilda, the last ship known to transport Africans to the American South for enslavement, opened its doors on July 8. The Africatown Heritage House, along with its centerpiece exhibition "Clotilda: The Exhibition," commemorates the arrival of the ship in Alabama's Mobile Bay exactly 163 years ago.
The grand opening ceremonies for the $1.3mn museum took place over the weekend, drawing visitors and dignitaries from across the country. The exhibition provides a detailed account of the ship, its survivors, and their subsequent establishment of the Africatown community in Mobile following their emancipation after the Civil War.
In 1860, the Clotilda departed Alabama, flouting the Congressional ban on the importation of enslaved individuals, and embarked on a covert voyage funded by Timothy Meaher. The ship clandestinely transported 110 captive Africans from present-day Benin to Alabama. Upon its arrival in Mobile, Captain William Foster transferred the men, women, and children from the Clotilda before setting fire to the vessel, attempting to conceal the evidence of their illicit journey. Although most of the ship burned, significant remnants of the Clotilda remain submerged in the Mobile River, which flows into Mobile Bay.
In 2019, the remains of the Clotilda were discovered, prompting Meaher's descendants to issue a statement last year condemning their ancestor's actions as "evil and unforgivable."
The museum provides a concise overview of the transatlantic slave trade while focusing on the survivors of the arduous 45-day journey from Africa. It prominently features the story of Oluale Kossola, more commonly known as Cudjoe Lewis, the most renowned passenger aboard the Clotilda. Kossola's interviews in the 1920s provided invaluable information to historians and scholars about the Clotilda and its passengers.
Additionally, the museum highlights other survivors, such as Matilda McCrear, who died in 1940 in Selma, Alabama, and was the last known survivor of Clotilda. Separated from her mother at a tender age, McCrear attempted to flee from a slaveholder at just three years old. In a desperate bid for freedom, she and her sister sought refuge in a swamp, concealing themselves for hours until they were discovered by tracking dogs.
Jeremy Ellis, president of the Clotilda Descendants Association and a sixth-generation descendant of Pollee and Rose Allen, who were enslaved and aboard the Clotilda shared his perspective regarding the opening of the museum.
"I believe that those who visit the museum will gain profound insights into this particular story. It illuminates the West African culture, the harrowing experiences endured during the Middle Passage, the first five years of slavery, and the remarkable resilience demonstrated in the founding of Africatown in 1865," Jeremy Ellis stated.
The Africatown Heritage House and "Clotilda: The Exhibition" stand as a poignant testament to the enduring spirit and indomitable strength of the Clotilda survivors. The museum aims to educate visitors about this significant chapter in American history, fostering a deeper understanding of the African diaspora and the ongoing pursuit of racial equality and justice.
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