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46 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2020 African American Cultural Club America's Original Sin! The remains of the last slave ship coming to America have finally been found. In 1860, 52 years after the United States banned the importation of slaves, the Schooner named Clotilda brought 110 slaves from Africa to Mobile, Alabama. Those slaves were the last of over 400,000 Africans delivered into bondage to America from the early 1600s. By the time the Civil War broke out, Mobile was exporting 100 million tons of cotton which was the basis for the South's entire economy. As a result, buying and selling slaves was still in high demand. The cost of purchasing slaves in America was far more expensive than purchasing slaves from Africa. Although importing slaves had been illegal for over 50 years, Timothy Maher, a wealthy shipbuilder and slave owner, made a bet with comrades that he could make an illegal run to Africa to purchase slaves much cheaper. Maher hired Captain William Foster to sail to the Kingdom of Dahomey (the coast of Benin and Nigeria) to purchase 110 Africans and sneak them into the Mobile Bay for distribution. "I then took the schooner, burned and sank it," says Captain Foster. Last year after the water levels sank to extreme lows in the Mobile River, the Alabama Ship Wreck Commission teamed up with Search Inc., the Smithsonian Institute, and the Slave Wrecks Project to do a full-scale search of a section of the river where they believed the boat was located. They found a boat 86 feet long and 23 feet wide, the exact dimensions of the Clotilda, according to its insurance documents. In May of last year, the Alabama Historical Commission formally announced that the Clotilda had been found by researcher, Ben Raines. "The wreckage found bears physical and forensic evidence that powerfully suggests that this is the Clotilda. It was found in the right place, was the right size, and was made of the same materials described in the boat's records." The African-American Cultural Club (AACC) encourages Four Seasons residents to participate in its cultural events and programs which are designed to share the Black experience with residents through educational and social events. Future Events: June 19- Juneteenth Celebration Oct. 3 -Jazz Under the Stars Dec. 12 - Christmas Gala AACC meetings are postponed due to the coronavirus. For club information, please call Betty Ann James at (951) 572-5538 or email: infotoaacc@gmail.com. ~ Regina Thomas As we write this article, in mid April, the sincere wish is that you are all taking care and in good health! The optimistic hope is that we will have our community up and running sometime in May with our Monthly Taste d'Vine meeting being held on May 21. So with those positive thoughts in mind… Your Taste d'Vine Wine Club is pleased to present some wonderful wines from Lebanon. Lebanon is a small country nestled at the eastern most point of the Mediterranean, where the waves wash its shoreline from the furthest point north to its lowest point south. Lebanon has a long, dry, hot summer with plenty of sunshine and short, rainy, cool winter with fog covering its green mountains. Vines are planted on the face of the mountains and through the valleys. With a strong French influence and organically grown, these wines are sure to please. Please join us May 21 (we meet the third Thursday of each month) in the Ballroom. Doors open at 5:15 pm with the meeting starting at 6 pm. Please bring a favorite wine to share with your table, along with an appetizer such as crackers, cheese or fruit, along with two glasses for tasting. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for resident guests. For information, contact Gracy Luna at (951) 292-3624. ~ Gracy Luna Taste d'Vine The Clotilda, the last-known slave ship to reach the shores of the United States in 1860, was finally discovered in Alabama. Photo Credit: Master Shooter, via Wikimedia Commons. Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time.

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