Living Words That Cannot Be Silenced: The Truths of One Clotilda Survivor
American history is most authentically told through the voices of those who lived it. The life experiences of my ancestor Kupollee (Pollee) Allen—one of the last survivors of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to bring captives from Africa to the United States—stand as a testament to resilience, faith, and the enduring power of memory. Through the words of Pollee and his descendants, we gain a window into a past that cannot be erased, rewritten, only retold with honesty and reverence through his living words.
“Money don’t plea you there”: Justice and Memory
Prior to being kidnapped and sold into slavery, Kupollee had been initiated into the religion of the Orisa and was a servant of the gods. A quiet man, who seldom spoke and rarely discussed the circumstances of his capture, in 1914, Pollee and a few of his shipmates were interviewed by Emma Langdon Roche. Their words were captured in Historic Sketches of the South, written by Roche. Among the most powerful living words passed down is Pollee’s statement: “Money don’t plea you there.” Spoken to Emma Langdon Roche, Pollee used this phrase to describe the justice system of his homeland, where even the king’s son was held accountable for murder. In Pollee’s culture, justice was not swayed by wealth or status—a principle that resonates across generations and something America can learn from.
From Dahomey to Alabama: A Journey of Survival
Pollee’s journey began in southwest Africa, where he was initiated into the religion of the Orisa and served as a spiritual devotee. His life was violently disrupted in March 1860, when Dahomey King Glele and his formidable women warriors overtook his village. Refusing to submit to the king’s demands, the villagers faced a brutal ambush. Many elders were killed or left behind, and the survivors—including Pollee and his friend Kossula—were forced on a 200-mile march to Ouidah, a notorious slave port. Pollee described this journey in his own words: “Many days from water,” capturing the exhaustion and hardship of their forced march. Their ordeal was later recounted to Zora Neale Hurston and captured in her influential work, Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo.
After weeks in the filthy barracoons of Ouidah, Pollee, Kossula, Rose, and 107 others were trafficked illegally to the United States aboard the Clotilda. The harrowing 45-day journey in the ship’s cargo hold was followed by five years of enslavement. Even after emancipation in 1865, the dream of returning home to Africa remained unfulfilled. Yet, the spirit of these survivors was not broken.
Building Africatown: A Community of Strength and Faith
Upon learning of their freedom, Pollee and his fellow survivors forged a new path. Stripped of their clothes but not their skills or minds, they established Africatown near Mobile, Alabama. They became American citizens, purchased land, built homes and a church, voted, and started their own school. The survivors “made a way out of no way.” Their achievements were incredible, considering the adversity they faced. Their words and experiences were preserved in interviews, books, and newspaper articles, ensuring their legacy would not be forgotten.
Pollee and his shipmates were master carpenters, builders, and farmers. Their Tarkar-style dwellings, noted for their superior quality and fire resistance, were a source of pride and demonstrated their mastery. Pollee worked long shifts at the Dixie Mill Company, often being paid for fewer hours than he worked.
Despite these hardships, the Africatown community pooled resources, enabling Pollee to purchase two acres of land from his former enslavers in 1872. He cultivated a variety of crops, providing for his family and community. As his youngest daughter, Mama Eva, touchingly recalled Pollee “Tell momma I can eat by the lamp light, but I can’t do this planting by the lamp.” This quote, captured by Dr. Natalie Robertson, reflects the daily realities and resilience of Pollee and his family after emancipation. The sacrifice, hard work, and dedication of Pollee through those words, even decades after being illegally trafficked, not only inspires his descendants but also encourages and motivates generations to keep going. His circumstances did not determine his attitude but revealed his character.
Faith and the Invictus Spirit
Throughout their trials, faith remained a cornerstone. The unconquerable souls of Pollee and his shipmates allowed them to remain true and steadfast to their faith. Pollee’s words, as shared by Kossula and recorded by Emma Langdon Roche and others, reflect a deep spiritual resilience: “We know not why these troubles came upon us, but we are all God’s Children—we not always see the way, but his hands guide us and shape our ends.”
These living words exemplify the unwavering faith that sustained Pollee and his community. They show an extraordinary relationship that a man of unwavering faith beyond measure would have with his God, an Invictus spirit.
The Enduring Power of Living Words and Today
The legacy of Kupollee Allen and the founding of Africatown is not only preserved in history books but lives on through the spoken and written words passed down across generations. These “living words”—from Pollee’s declaration, “Money don’t plea you there,” to his reflections on faith and justice—are more than memories; they are guiding principles that continue to shape the community’s identity and values.
Pollee’s words remind us that justice is not for sale, that faith can sustain us through unimaginable hardship, and that the truth of lived experience is a legacy more powerful than any monument. As his descendants echo his wisdom— “Tell momma I can eat by the lamp light, but I can’t do this planting by the lamp”—we see how these living words carry the realities, hopes, and resilience of a people determined to thrive.
In May of 2019, archeologist verified the schooner Clotilda. In May 2022, during one of the most recent explorations of Clotilda, Diving with a Purpose diver Kamau Sadiki had the chance to explore Clotilda. Kamau, one of the only divers to ever dive into the cargo hold of Clotilda recited an Ancestor’s Prayer he wrote with Sabrina Johnson’s. That prayer ends with these words “…Your silence ends now. Your voices and memory are lifted now from this wretched vessel through us, and we welcome you to speak through us. Our connection will never be broken. We are because of you. Thank you for reaching out to us. Blessings to your spirit always.”
In honoring the living words of Pollee and his community, we recognize that history is not just what happened, but what is remembered, spoken, and lived. Our ancestor’s “silence ends now.” Through their words, history cannot be erased or rewritten. They cannot be forgotten. Their voices continue to inspire, reminding us that the stories we tell—and the words we choose—have the power to shape justice, faith, and the future for generations to come.
By Jeremy Ellis
Descendant of Kupollee (Pollee) and Rose Allen