Ep 1. America's Last Slave Ship

In "America's Last Slave Ship," the first episode of Season 3 of Drain the Oceans, viewers are taken on a journey to uncover the secrets of the Clotilda, the last known ship to have brought slaves to the United States.

The episode starts by diving into the murky waters of the Mobile River in Alabama, where the Clotilda was burned and sunk in 1860 to hide evidence of its illegal slave trading. The team of experts, including marine archaeologists, historians, and scientists, use state-of-the-art technology to map the riverbed and locate the remnants of the ship underwater.

Through a combination of computer-generated imagery and underwater footage, viewers are transported back to the mid-19th century, when the transatlantic slave trade was illegal, but still thriving, especially in the southern United States. The episode explores the journey of the Clotilda, which sailed from the West African kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Benin) in 1860 with 110 men, women, and children, who were forced into slavery and taken across the Atlantic.

Viewers get a glimpse into the harrowing conditions on board the Clotilda, where slaves were crammed into small spaces, chained together, and subjected to horrific treatment by the crew. The experts explain how the Clotilda was able to evade authorities and avoid detection on its journey across the ocean.

As the episode progresses, the team uncovers more evidence of the Clotilda's journey, including artifacts found on board and in the riverbed. Deep-sea divers go to great lengths to retrieve items such as shackles, pottery, and musket balls that provide clues to how the ship operated and what life was like on board.

The Clotilda's captain, William Foster, claimed that he burned and sank the ship to avoid getting caught and facing prosecution for violating the ban on the transatlantic slave trade. However, the episode raises questions about the true motives behind the ship's destruction and why it wasn't found until over a century later.

Throughout the episode, experts provide historical context and explain the lasting impact of the slave trade on the United States and the world. They delve into the stories of some of the individuals who were on board the Clotilda, including Cudjo Lewis, who was one of the last known survivors of the transatlantic slave trade and was interviewed by author Zora Neale Hurston in the 1930s.

"America's Last Slave Ship" is a poignant and illuminating look at a dark chapter in American history. The episode serves as a reminder that the legacy of slavery still resonates today and that there is much to be learned from exploring our past. The team's use of cutting-edge technology and their expertise bring the story of the Clotilda to life and provide new insights into a tragic part of our shared history.