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Cudjoe Lewis

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Slave

The Resume

    (circa 1840-1935)
    Born in Tamale, Ghana
    Birth name was Kazoola
    One of the last people born on African soil captured and sold into slavery in the U.S. (1860)
    Freed in 1865 and with other ex-slaves helped establish Africatown, three miles north of Mobile, Alabama
    At 70 years (of freedom) the longest living ex-slave born in Africa

Why he might be annoying:

    He used his African name as his slave middle name.
    His tribe was defeated by another tribe and he was sold illegally to the U.S. along with 114 fellow tribesmen (at $100 a head).
    Africatown was a distinct community until after World War II when the suburban town of Prichard swallowed it up.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His enslavement broke the law but the slave ship's captain and other co-conspirators saw charges against them dismissed.
    Given a choice, he chose to remain in America and form Africatown.
    Along with fellow tribesmen he created a self-governing society where native languages were spoken and tribal traditions were carried on into the next century.
    He was well spoken, never showed outward signs of bitterness and granted interviews to white journalists interested in his experiences.
    In 1997 the Africatown Community Mobilization Project was formed to help historical restoration and development of the unique community.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 67 Votes: 49.25% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 32 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 36 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 51 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 114 Votes: 40.35% Annoying