After the Civil War, a group of people who had been kidnapped from Africa and forced into slavery in Alabama did something amazing. They started their own town, called Africatown. It became a strong and proud community where they kept their culture and supported each other.
The people who founded Africatown had been brought to Alabama on a ship called the Clotilda. This was illegal because bringing enslaved people from Africa had been banned long before. But a group of men secretly brought them to Alabama anyway. After slavery ended, the people who had been forced onto the Clotilda wanted to go back to Africa. When they could not afford to return, they decided to build a new home together in Alabama.
Building Africatown was not easy. The founders faced many challenges. They had to buy land even though they had very little money. They worked hard by farming and taking other jobs to earn what they needed. Even though life was tough, they built homes, a church, and a school. They spoke their own African language and kept many of their traditions alive.
Cudjoe Kazoola Lewis is one of the most well-known founders. He shared stories about how he and others built Africatown. Other important founders included Charles Lewis, Charlie Poteet, and Jabez, who all worked hard to create a safe and welcoming place for their community.
Africatown became a place where people could live with dignity and pride, even after facing terrible injustice. They helped each other, taught their children, and kept their history alive. Africatown is still remembered today as a symbol of strength, courage, and the power of community.