The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning

The "enlightening" true story of the last ship to carry enslaved people to America, the remarkable town its survivors founded after emancipation, and the complicated legacy their descendants carry with them to this day is explored in the book "The Last Slave Ship." The ship was scuttled and burned on arrival to hide the wealthy perpetrators to escape prosecution. In 2019, journalist Ben Raines successfully concluded his obsessive quest to uncover one of our nation's most important historical artifacts. Africatown, the Alabama community founded by the captives of the Clotilda, prospered in the Jim Crow South, but the haunting memory of bondage has been passed on through generations. The book depicts America as it struggles to grapple with the traumatic past of slavery and the ways in which racial oppression continues to this day, but remains optimistic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

The "enlightening" (The Guardian) true story of the last ship to carry enslaved people to America, the remarkable town its survivors founded after emancipation, and the complicated legacy their descendants carry with them to this day—by the journalist who discovered the ships remains.

Fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed, the Clotilda became the last ship in history to bring enslaved Africans to the United States. The ship was scuttled and burned on arrival to hide the wealthy perpetrators to escape prosecution. Despite numerous efforts to find the sunken wreck, Clotilda remained hidden for the next 160 years. But in 2019, journalist Ben Raines made international news when he successfully concluded his obsessive quest through the swamps of Alabama to uncover one of our nations most important historical artifacts.

Traveling from Alabama to the ancient African kingdom of Dahomey in modern-day Benin, Raines recounts the ships perilous journey, the story of its rediscovery, and its complex legacy. Against all odds, Africatown, the Alabama community founded by the captives of the Clotilda, prospered in the Jim Crow South. Zora Neale Hurston visited in 1927 to interview Cudjo Lewis, telling the story of his enslavement in the New York Times bestseller Barracoon. And yet the haunting memory of bondage has been passed on through generations.

Clotilda is a ghost haunting three communities—the descendants of those transported into slavery, the descendants of their fellow Africans who sold them, and the descendants of their fellow American enslavers. This connection binds these groups together to this day. At the turn of the century, descendants of the captain who financed the Clotilda's journey lived nearby—where, as significant players in the local economy, they built a prosperous community that would become known as Africatown.

Despite the challenges of segregation and discrimination, Africatown thrived. The community was known for its vibrant music, rich cultural traditions, and strong sense of community. It was also home to many influential African-American leaders, including civil rights pioneers such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

However, the legacy of slavery and the Clotilda's role in it has not been forgotten. The ship's discovery in 2019 sparked a renewed interest in the history of slavery and its impact on American society. It also highlighted the ongoing struggles of African-Americans to overcome the legacy of discrimination and inequality.

In conclusion, the story of the Clotilda and Africatown is a powerful reminder of the complex and enduring legacy of slavery in American history. It is a story of resilience, perseverance, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. Despite the challenges faced by the community, Africatown has remained a symbol of hope and inspiration for generations of African-Americans and others who seek to understand and confront the legacy of slavery.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 212 x 139 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781982136154