51 pages • 1 hour read
Zora Neale HurstonBarracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston is a firsthand narrative of Oluale “Cudjo Lewis” Kossola's life, detailing his joyous youth in Africa, the agonies of the Middle Passage aboard the Clotilda, enslavement in the United States, and rebuilding his life in Africa Town, Alabama. The narrative intertwines Kossola's recollections with Hurston's reflections on her interviews with him and those experiences. This book discusses slavery, extreme violence, murder, and police brutality.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston offers a poignant and powerful account of Cudjo Lewis, the last survivor of the transatlantic slave trade. Praised for its historical importance and Hurston's empathetic narrative style, some critiques note its reliance on dialect as potentially challenging. Overall, the book is valued for illuminating an essential part of American history.
Who Should Read Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"?
Readers who appreciate in-depth oral histories, African American narratives, and works like Alex Haley's Roots or Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me will find Barracoon compelling. They value firsthand accounts and historical insights into the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring impact.