Summary- Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon is a truly unique and important story, hidden from public view for more than 70 years, and seeing the light of day only now. Barracoon tells the story of Kossula (Cudjo Lewis), a passenger on the last slave ship to sail to these shores, The Clotilde. The book tells his story, from birth to the moment of his interview, but mainly focuses on the parts of his life as a free man. Kossula was born in modern-day Benin, from the Yoruba tribe. His early life in Africa was characterized by stories about family, as well as stories about growing up. His rather blissful childhood ended when the King of Dahomey led a raid on his town, and killed or captured his village as slaves. He was then sold to Timothy Meaher,
…show more content…
Kossula spent very little time discussing his experiences with slavery, noting that he worked very hard, and did most of his labor on a boat He spent most of his story discussing his life as a free man once again. He and some of the other survivors of the Clotilde established a post-slavery settlement called Africatown and it was there that he married his wife, Abile. Kossula worked as a laborer, until he was hit by a train and was unable to work again. He sued the train company, winning money, but never getting the reward. He was then hired as the sexton of his Africatown church. He and Abile had 6 children together, all of whom predeceased Kossula. Several of his children died of illness, one was shot, another disappeared and one was hit by a train. His wife also died many years before he was interviewed, leaving him lonely, to tend to his garden and church. Hurston interviewed him in his 80’s, about 10 years before he died, and noted frequently, his razor-sharp …show more content…
This book is a fascinating continuation of that trend. The book is has been called ‘plagiarized’ by Robert Hemenway, her biographer, and described lovingly by Parul Sehgal in an edition of the Times from May 2. The book is a remarkable addition to the canon of slave-narrative literature. The book gives insight into Hurston’s anthropological background as well as being a literary narrative. Hurston pulls from Kossula’s stories, to find biographical details and situations even he might not have been aware of, such as attempting to find his place of birth, and detailing the King of Dahomey’s name. In addition to the background research that Hurston gave, her story also includes a significant amount of dialogue between the two of them, Hurston and Kossula. He was at times, less than forthcoming, but Hurston persisted, and the resulting interpersonal dynamics were fascinating. Her description of the foods they ate together, melons, crabs and peaches and of the pain on Kossula’s face as he described the circumstances of his life, from horror to horror were gut-wrenching and insightful. The manner in which the interview was organized and the way in which it was conducted allowed for a sense of informality and a true knowledge of Kossula’s background and circumstances in a small number of pages. The book contributes immensely to the canon of slave literature, beyond any criticism, its
Kossula spent very little time discussing his experiences with slavery, noting that he worked very hard, and did most of his labor on a boat He spent most of his story discussing his life as a free man once again. He and some of the other survivors of the Clotilde established a post-slavery settlement called Africatown and it was there that he married his wife, Abile. Kossula worked as a laborer, until he was hit by a train and was unable to work again. He sued the train company, winning money, but never getting the reward. He was then hired as the sexton of his Africatown church. He and Abile had 6 children together, all of whom predeceased Kossula. Several of his children died of illness, one was shot, another disappeared and one was hit by a train. His wife also died many years before he was interviewed, leaving him lonely, to tend to his garden and church. Hurston interviewed him in his 80’s, about 10 years before he died, and noted frequently, his razor-sharp …show more content…
This book is a fascinating continuation of that trend. The book is has been called ‘plagiarized’ by Robert Hemenway, her biographer, and described lovingly by Parul Sehgal in an edition of the Times from May 2. The book is a remarkable addition to the canon of slave-narrative literature. The book gives insight into Hurston’s anthropological background as well as being a literary narrative. Hurston pulls from Kossula’s stories, to find biographical details and situations even he might not have been aware of, such as attempting to find his place of birth, and detailing the King of Dahomey’s name. In addition to the background research that Hurston gave, her story also includes a significant amount of dialogue between the two of them, Hurston and Kossula. He was at times, less than forthcoming, but Hurston persisted, and the resulting interpersonal dynamics were fascinating. Her description of the foods they ate together, melons, crabs and peaches and of the pain on Kossula’s face as he described the circumstances of his life, from horror to horror were gut-wrenching and insightful. The manner in which the interview was organized and the way in which it was conducted allowed for a sense of informality and a true knowledge of Kossula’s background and circumstances in a small number of pages. The book contributes immensely to the canon of slave literature, beyond any criticism, its