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News and Events |
News and EventsOld Plateau Cemetery Association Launches Plan for National Recognition and Support. The Old Plateau Cemetery Association, meeting at the National African-American Archives and Museum in April 2005, decided to launch a program to win national recognition and support for the cemetery they maintain. Located at the foot of the majestic Cochrane-Africatown USA bridge, Old Plateau is the site of the graves of Cudjo Lewis and other Africans brought to Mobile on the ship Clotilda in 1860, on the eve of the Civil War. They were likely the very last people brought in bondage from Africa to the United States. The voyage of the Clotilda was completely contrary to the laws of the day, but no one was ever punished for it. After the war and emancipation, Cudjo and the other Africans longed to return to their homes, but could never do so. With great difficulty, they bought the land where they had been settled, which became known as Africatown. Over the years, as Africatown became an important part of the Mobile African-American community, they told their moving story to a number of prominent visitors, including Booker T.Washington and Zora Neale Hurston. The Association will be taking the steps necessary to win recognition of the cemetery from the Alabama Historical Commission. Once the cemetery is registered with the Commission, the Association will purchase an Alabama historical marker and perhaps seek recognition for the cemetery as a national historic site. If you would like to help in this project, please contact the National African-American Archives and Museum at (251) 433-8511. |