Africatown, Alabama Altevese Rosarios voice quivers when she speaks of her great-great-great-grandfather Kossola Oluale.
First, he valued the richness and beauty of his origins.
And second, he needed his story their story, Rosario paused.
To be forever remembered.
It got to me a little bit, Rosario says of her emotional moment.
Our ancestors arent physically here.
Theyre spiritually here, and they get to see what they always hoped for.
Accessibility:The building is accessible.
Headphones can be requested for use with provided audio handsets.
Audio transcriptions are also available.
Hurston recounted Oluales life in her bookBarracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo.
Now Oluale, his fellowClotildasurvivors and their descendants have a new platform for documenting their story.
Its siding is painted the same blue as Africatowns first school to honor the occupants of theClotilda.
TheClotildaexhibit inside Heritage House recounts the capture of West Africans near present-day Benin.
It documents their two-month voyage on theClotilda,and their resilience during and after enslavement in the United States.
The Africatown Heritage House is a 40-year dream realized for the descendants of theClotildasurvivors and the residents of Africatown.
Im overjoyed in how it has turned out, Rosario says.
She hopes other community members are satisfied with the exhibit too.
At some point, their ancestor was taken from somewhere.
