On July 8, 149 years ago, 110 young people disembarked from the slave ship Clotilda. It may appear paradoxical, but at a time when there seems to be too few around, I truly believe that they and other victims of the slave trade and slavery are role models for all ages. Our pain and revolt at the sheer horror of what they endured, and at the poisonous legacy of the slave trade and slavery that need to be addressed and redressed, should not overshadow their accomplishments. Read More
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Cudjo Lewis at the UN
March 30, 2009
Tags:
Cudjo, United Nations
On March 25, the United Nations commemorated the second International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Slave Trade. A series of events was held from the 24 to the 26 at the UN headquarters in New York. The theme was “Breaking the Silence, Beating the Drum.”
The words that defined the commemoration and Read More
The words that defined the commemoration and Read More
10 Comments
Comments
Mar 31, 2009 11:31 AM EDT
What a moving tribute, not only to Cudjo Lewis, but to all the courageous people who endured the Middle Passage and enslavement in this country.
Congratulations, Sylviane!
- Gayla Jamison
May 14, 2009 12:41 PM EDT
Greetings, I read Dreams of Africa. I am a Black American sculptor and reading your wonderfully written account- altered the direction of my work. I am sincerely indebted to your scholarship and humanity. Thank you.
- Phoenix Savage
Jan 23, 2012 5:34 AM EST
This is a very informative blog on Slave ships in Alabama. It points to a time in history that is sometime very painful, but very true and very necessary.
- Carlotta Maria Shinn-Russell
Jun 05, 2012 6:38 AM EDT
Thanks for this post and your wonderful book that helped acquaint so many of us ignorant white Alabamians with such a profoundly important part of our people's history.
- Jack R. Bergstresser, Sr.
Dec 03, 2012 12:22 AM EST
Ms. Diouf,
I'm currently reading your book titled Servants of Allah. Is there another way I can email you? I will really like to discuss something with you.
- Anonymous
Jan 31, 2014 1:20 AM EST
I am a descendent from a family raised in Africatown from approximently 1915-1958. My grandfather was name Harris Gibson and he ran away from home when he was 13 years old, his mother died when he was a infant and his father could not raise him. He was sent to live with whites, he slept in horrible conditions, and was treated poorly. Some other boys in the neighborhood got together and decided to run away. They hopped trains during the night until they were in this place called African Town. There he was taken in and raised by loving people. He later married a beautiful women a Maudie Mae Gibson and they had seven childen. My grandfather opened a bike shop called Gibson's Bike Shop and had a great life. Thank you, Africatown
- Rachelle Gibson
Jan 31, 2014 7:18 AM EST
Hi I just spoke with my father Owen Gibson who was raised in Africa town From 1925 to 1958, born in Plato. Referred. Cudjo Lewis as uncle, recalls some moments with great man. My father will be 89years in March 2014.
- Rachelle Gibson
Jul 19, 2014 8:18 AM EDT
I'm so excited to read Dreams of Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America. Just ordered it on Amazon. From the excerpt I read it ties in wonderfully with the two books my grandmother, Mable Dennison, wrote: A Memoir of Lottie Dennison and Biographical Memoirs of James Dennison. I vividly remember my grandmother telling amazing stories about Cudjoe Lewis.
- Jaret Dennison
Oct 11, 2014 9:42 PM EDT
We'd like to do something about the exhibition - can you email me at the bbd
- mark savage
Oct 13, 2014 7:28 AM EDT
Mark Savage, please contact me through my Contact page.
- Sylviane DIouf