| Author |
Hurston, Zora Neale, 1891-1960 |
| Title |
Cudjo's own story of the last African slaver
|
| Original Publication |
Eastford, CT: Martino Fine Books, 1927, reprint 2020.
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 83.0 (6th grade). Easy to read.
|
| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barracoon:_The_Story_of_the_Last_%22Black_Cargo%22
|
| Credits |
Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
|
| Summary |
"Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver" by Zora Neale Hurston is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book presents the firsthand narrative of Cudjo Lewis, the last surviving person from the last ship illegally transporting slaves to America, the "Clotilde", and it recounts his experiences of capture, the Middle Passage, and life in America thereafter. It addresses themes of identity, survival, and cultural history, offering readers a poignant glimpse into the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade through the eyes of one who lived through it. The narrative unfolds with Cudjo describing his life in Africa, detailing the customs, agriculture, and daily life in his homeland, before the violent raid by Dahomey warriors that led to his capture. He vividly recounts the harrowing journey aboard the "Clotilde", emphasizing the suffering endured during the Middle Passage. Once in America, Cudjo's story reflects on the adaptations and struggles faced by him and his fellow captives as they transitioned to life as enslaved individuals in Alabama. His deep yearning for his homeland contrasts with the sense of resilience he and others displayed while building a tight-knit community known as African Town after emancipation. Throughout the text, Cudjo's reflections reveal both the trauma of his past and the strength drawn from his cultural heritage. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
E300: History: America: Revolution to the Civil War (1783-1861)
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| Subject |
Enslaved persons -- Alabama -- Biography
|
| Subject |
Lewis, Cudjo, 1841?-1935
|
| Subject |
Clotilda (Ship)
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| Subject |
West Africans -- Alabama -- Biography
|
| Subject |
Slave trade -- Alabama -- Mobile -- History -- 19th century
|
| Subject |
Slave trade -- United States -- History -- 19th century
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| Subject |
Slave trade -- Africa -- History -- 19th century
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| Subject |
Slavery -- Alabama -- History -- 19th century
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| Subject |
Slave ships -- Alabama
|
| Subject |
Mobile (Ala.) -- History -- 19th century
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
73715 |
| Release Date |
May 28, 2024 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
100 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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