Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Descendant (2022)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Descendant
Descendant is a historical documentary directed by Margaret Brown that tells the story of Africatown, Alabama, and the descendants of the last known enslaved Africans brought to the United States aboard the Clotilda. The film begins with the context of the 1808 act that abolished the international slave trade, followed by the illegal voyage of the Clotilda in 1860, where over one hundred enslaved individuals were brought to Mobile Bay. The documentary captures the community's efforts to seek justice and locate the wreckage of the Clotilda, which was discovered in 2019. The film provides a deep look into the lives of the descendants living in Africatown, reflecting on their heritage and the impact of the Clotilda's discovery. Brown spent four years with the residents, documenting their stories and struggles, which culminated in a film that premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and was later distributed by Higher Ground Productions and Netflix.

Why Watch

  • •See the impact of the Clotilda's discovery on Africatown's community.
  • •Meet descendants fighting for justice and recognition.
  • •Find out about the illegal slave trade in 1860 America.

Did You Know

•The Clotilda brought 110 enslaved Africans to Mobile Bay on July 9, 1860.
•The wreckage of the Clotilda was found in the Mobile River in 2019.
•The film has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 69 reviews.
•Descendant was ranked number 61 on IndieWire's list of 'The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)' in June 2025.

Perfect For

African American historyHistorical documentariesSocial justice advocacy