Abstract
Africatown, located in Mobile, Alabama, represents a community settled by captives brought to the United States from Africa by slave ship Clotilda, known as the last slave ship to arrive in the USA. Africatown is unique in that it represents a group of Africans who were forcefully removed from their homeland, sold into slavery, and then formed their own, largely self-governing community, all the while maintaining a strong sense of African cultural heritage. By establishing the Africatown Connections Blueway, descendants of the original founders of Africatown, seek to re-connect their neighbors to the surrounding waterways from which they have been separated. Of primary importance is to preserve and make available the international historical significance of Africatown to communities across Alabama, the United States and the entire world in hopes of contributing to the healing process from the sadness that stems from long lost ties to Africa. The Africatown Story inspires hope and resilience, which are both much needed in today’s current affairs. Once a self-sustained community nourished from the bounty of the surrounding waters, native wildlife, fruits and nuts Africatown is now a community reclaiming its connection to the waterways of the Mobile, AL metro area and its ties to African heritage. The story is challenging to tell and at times uncomfortable for both decedents of slaves and decedents of slave holding families. In order to tell the story, community members see the waterways as the common element for healing and renewal for all connected to the history whether in the Mobile Metro area or in numerous nations of Africa.
