Documentary Review| Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship
Summary
National Geographic takes us on a journey to study the wreck of the Clotilda, the last ship to illegally carry slaves into America.
My Thoughts
I was already familiar with the discovery of this ship wreck by watching another National Geographic series Drain the Oceans about draining bodies of water to see what is underneath.
What I especially enjoyed about this documentary was their decision to involve the descendants of the slaves that survived the sinking and destruction of Clotilda. Hearing their respective connections to the past was amazing to witness. I learned that Barracoon The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston was connected to this shipwreck via one of its survivors.
I am adding this novel to my reading list now that I have learned more about the story. What surprised me the most about the history of the Clotilda was that the ship owners illegally smuggled slaves as a bet, not from necessity. I highly recommend this documentary as an enlightening and rare chance to see the full circle journey of slaves being brought to America.
Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship Trailer
Let me know your thoughts on this documentary or if you have any other you recommend in the comments below!
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Just Talking Shep 