BARACOON: THE STORY OF THE LAST "BLACK CARGO" - ZORA NEALE HURSTON

Zora Neale Hurston is, obviously, incredible. I really like the books of gathered folk tales and I love the idea of her traveling around these places when she did, by herself, talking to people and writing down their stories. I’ve also read, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD, and found it really good, much better than I thought it’d be. In this case, she found a story teller who’s personal story is so overwhelming and powerful, it deserves a book. Several books, probably, it’s a testament to the monstrous racism Hurston faced that this book, which includes one of the most insane first person accounts in history, wasn’t published until this year. The heart of the book, as it exists, is Hurston’s transcription of Kossola’s story. He is one of the last people to have been kidnapped and enslaved and transported across the Atlantic and his is one of the few accounts we have total of this process that totally shaped and birthed our world. As you can probably imagine, Kossola’s story is full of depthless tragedy. I was struck by the cruelty  he described receiving from American-born slaves and their decedents who by this time (he is taken to American in 1860) had not only constructed/had forced upon them a unique identity apart from and, apparently, opposed to, African-born Africans. The book also includes Hurston’s accounts of Kossola’s life in an Alabama Africa-Town after the war and what his life looked like in old age. Beyond the Hurston authored stuff there are essays from academics describing Hurston’s process and life around the time she wrote the book as well as additional scholarship that essential fact-checks or flushes out Kossola’s story (Hurston’s writing in that direction are also included and commented upon). The scope of what’s happening in this book is beyond the ability to take in really. Glimpsing it in the corners of Kossola’s life made this book tough to bear. Amazing and terrifying. 9 ships.