Paul Cuffee: The Initial Back To Africa Movement

113 Words1 Page

The initial Back to Africa Movement in United States history was led by Paul Cuffee. Cuffee was the child of Kofi Slocum and was born on Cuttyhunk Island, which is off the coast of southern Massachusetts. Cuffee began his career as a sailor, which eventually turned into a successful ship enterprise. Unfortunately, his ship was seized in 1812 during a journey from Sierra Leone to Great Britain; it was an attack or violation of the newly established U.S. 1807 embargo on British goods. Eventually, under the control of his ship the Traveler, Cuffee successfully transported 38 free-willing African Americans back to Africa through their own wishes- this was the first up-and-coming African-led emigration.

Open Document