United States

In 1860, 52 years after the slave trade was officially outlawed in the United States, a wealthy family illegally smuggled 110 Africans to Alabama on the Clotilda, one of the last known slave ships to arrive in the United States. Following the Civil War and the abolition of racial slavery, survivors of the Clotilda, their descendants, and other formerly enslaved people across the South founded their own community called Africatown, outside of Mobile, Alabama. While the remnants of the Clotilda were unearthed in 2019 following underwater archeological excavation works, memories of this tragic past were nevertheless preserved by the Africantown community throughout generations. The community has also maintained strong connections to its natural environment; however, with the development of industries and factories along its nearby waterways throughout the twentieth century, residents have suffered from industrial pollution and significant health issues.

Interviews conducted in Africatown for The Unfinished Conversations Series reveal how legacies of racial slavery and forced displacement continue to impact the social dynamics between this small community and the larger nearby city of Mobile. Community members spoke about the disproportionate effect of industry on their community, which has caused significant environmental and public health problems, leading many to leave Africatown in search of a better life. Interviewees also reflected on the lack of opportunities for young people, which leads to high levels of violence in their community. Despite continued struggles for environmental justice, health equity, and self-sufficiency, Africatown community members highlighted the ways they honor and preserve their history and culture.