Playback: Rooting, from Into the Depths
3Digest
This podcast delves into the investigation of slave shipwrecks, focusing on the discovery of the Clotilda, the last known ship to transport enslaved Africans to the US. The narrative follows National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts's journey, intertwining her personal genealogical research with the story of Africa Town, Alabama, a community founded by Clotilda's descendants. The podcast highlights the challenges of tracing enslaved ancestors, particularly the "1870 brick wall," and the significance of ancestral connection in healing collective trauma. It also explores the lesser-known Maritime Underground Railroad and the story of Harriet Jacobs. The discovery of the Clotilda shipwreck is detailed, emphasizing the collaborative efforts and the emotional impact on the community. Finally, the podcast reflects on the importance of telling the complete story of slavery, including the need for continued research, resource allocation, and education.
Outlines
Investigating Slave Shipwrecks and Ancestral Connections
Introduces Tara Roberts's investigation into slave shipwrecks and the work of Black scuba divers connecting to their ancestors' history, focusing on the Clotilda and Africa Town's significance in healing collective trauma.
The Clotilda, Africa Town, and Ancestral Stories
Details the history of the Clotilda and Africa Town, including interviews with descendants sharing their ancestors' stories.
Genealogical Research, the 1870 Brick Wall, and the Maritime Underground Railroad
Covers Tara Roberts's personal genealogical journey, the challenges of researching enslaved ancestors (the "1870 brick wall"), and the lesser-known Maritime Underground Railroad, connecting it to the host's family history.
The Clotilda's Discovery and its Significance
Details the discovery of the Clotilda shipwreck, highlighting collaborative efforts and the challenges and significance of the discovery.
Reflections and Future Directions
Concludes with reflections on the journey, the importance of telling the complete story of slavery, and the future of research into slave shipwrecks.
Keywords
Clotilda
The last known ship to transport enslaved Africans to the United States.
Africa Town
A community in Mobile, Alabama, founded by descendants of those brought to the US on the Clotilda.
Transatlantic Slave Trade
The forced migration of millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean for enslavement.
Collective Trauma
Shared psychological distress resulting from historical events like slavery.
Maritime Underground Railroad
A secret network using waterways to help enslaved people escape.
Genealogical Research
The study of family history and ancestry.
Q&A
What is the significance of the discovery of the Clotilda shipwreck?
The discovery provides tangible evidence of the transatlantic slave trade and offers a powerful connection for descendants, fostering healing and understanding.
What challenges are faced in tracing the ancestry of enslaved people?
The lack of official documentation before 1870 creates significant obstacles in tracing lineages.
How does the story of the Clotilda and Africa Town contribute to a broader understanding of history?
It highlights the resilience and cultural preservation of a community descended from those enslaved, promoting a more nuanced understanding of the past.
What is the importance of telling the complete story of slavery?
Telling the whole story promotes historical accuracy, justice, and honest dialogue about race and the legacy of slavery.
What are the future goals for research into slave shipwrecks?
Future efforts aim to locate more shipwrecks, train new divers, and integrate this history into education.
Show Notes
National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts is inspired by the stories of the Clotilda, a ship that illegally arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in 1860, and of Africatown, created by those on the vessel—a community that still exists today. The archaeologists and divers leading the search for the Clotilda lay out the steps it took to find it. In this last episode of the Into the Depths podcast, which published in March 2022, Tara talks to the living descendants of those aboard the ship. She admires their enormous pride in knowing their ancestry, and wonders if she can trace her own ancestors back to a ship. She hires a genealogist and visits her family’s small hometown in North Carolina. The surprising results bring a sense of belonging to a place that she never could have imagined.
Want more?
Check out our Into the Depths hub to listen to all six episodes, learn more about Tara’s journey following Black scuba divers, find previous Nat Geo coverage on the search for slave shipwrecks, and read the March 2022 cover story.
And download a tool kit for hosting an Into the Depths listening party to spark conversation and journey deeper into the material.
Also explore:
Dive into more of National Geographic’s coverage of the Clotilda with articles looking at scientists’ ongoing archaeological work, the story that broke the discovery of the ship, and the documentary Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship.
Meet more of the descendants of the Africans trafficked to the U.S. aboard the Clotilda, and find out what they’re doing to save Mobile’s Africatown community in the face of difficult economic and environmental challenges.
Read the story of Kossola, who later received the name Cudjo Lewis, in the book Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” by author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston.
Learn more about the life of abolitionist Harriet Jacobs, author of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” who escaped Edenton, N.C., through the Maritime Underground Railroad.
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