Dec. 8 Discussion Explores the Lives of Africatown Descendants

Participants in the upcoming Conversations on Race series will view a CBS 60 Minutes feature on the Clotilda—the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States—and explore the experiences of their descendants in Africatown, Alabama. The story examines how families connected to the Clotilda are grappling with questions of legacy, power, and reconciliation generations later.

The screening begins at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, December 8, in the Easton Room of the Talbot County Free Library and includes a shared discussion, refreshments, and a light meal.

The Clotilda segment shares the story of the ship’s 1860 voyage, which illegally transported 110 captive Africans to Mobile, Alabama, more than 50 years after the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed. The vessel was later burned and sunk in an effort to conceal the crime. Its wreckage, discovered in 2019, renewed attention to the descendants of Africatown’s founders—a community built by survivors and their families.

The segment explores the experiences of both the descendants and the families whose ancestors enslaved them as they grapple with questions of inheritance and healing. The longer Netflix documentary Descendant and Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” also delve into the Clotilda story.

Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network, said the Conversations on Race program is designed to create meaningful community connections through shared learning.

“We chose this impactful film because it explores issues of legacy, generational wealth, and personal agency,” Andrew said. “Each session stands on its own, but together they deepen our understanding of race and history.”

Dana Newman, executive director of the Talbot County Free Library, said hosting the series aligns with the library’s mission to foster dialogue and inclusion.

“Public libraries are one of the few truly shared spaces in any community,” Newman said. “Hosting Conversations on Race helps us bring people together to learn from one another and confront history with empathy and understanding. It’s how we build a stronger, more connected Talbot County.”

The event is free, with space limited. Advance registration is required at bit.ly/dec8convo.

The Conversations on Race series is free and open to the public, held monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Partners for the 2025–26 series include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and others.

The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board, established by the state of Maryland to improve coordination of services for children and families. TFN identifies local priorities, targets resources, and fosters collaboration across agencies and communities. More information is available at www.healthytalbot.org/about/talbot-family-network/.