5 stars
From the poetic team that brought us, Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship comes a powerful novel-in-verse that tells the story of the last American slave ship. Waters and Latham give voice to the survivors of the journey on the Clotilda, the enslavers who put them on that journey, and even the ship itself. Spanning generations, the characters present their own side of the story, each with their own motivations, rationales, and points of view.
This is such an amazing book. It highlights the power of people, while also bringing to light a dark time in American history.
There is so much to rave about this book, but here are a few of my favorites elements:
While the emphasis is on those who were brought to America aboard the Clotilda, their journey begins much earlier on. I really enjoyed that Waters and Latham showed Kossola’s life in Bantè, emphasizing that his story did not start when he was captured or enslaved. He had a life, a family, a love interest, dreams, aspirations, and goals. Throughout, we get glimpses of other characters’ lives in Africa as well, emphasizing all parts of their journey, not just when they arrived in America.
Latham and Waters also give voice to those who took part in enslaving people. From the man who bet that he could smuggle enslaved people to Alabama to the man who captained the ship, Waters and Latham give insight into the mindset of those involved. Instead of oversimplifying and presenting them as bad people who did bad things, they show what happens when people dehumanize others to the point they feel entitled to them and the work they can provide. This is how we learn from history, seeing the rationales that led to those “bad things”. Water’s and Latham’s presentations portray the dangers of dehumanization and seeing human beings as less than, as animals, as property. This allows readers to fully learn from the atrocities of the past instead of simply blaming it on bad people or outdated thinking.
There are also fantastic resources included in the back matter. There is an Authors’ Note, which gives more information on the project, a list of voices featured in the poems with basic information about the characters along with name pronunciation, a section with more in-depth information about the characters (both fictional and real-life), a section on modern day Africatown, a basic timeline of events, a glossary of terms, a breakdown of the poetry forms and styles used and why different styles were chosen for different characters, and further resources regarding the shipmates, the Clotilda, and African Town.
Though hard to read at times, this is something everyone should read. Absolutely fantastic. Latham and Waters pack in so many issues, all while showcasing the resilience of people and their power to make change, even when the cards are stacked against them. They beautifully execute a blend of poetry, history, hope, and perseverance. A truly remarkable read.