African Town: Parts 1–2

by Irene Latham, Charles Waters
Told from different perspectives, this novel-in-verse was inspired by the true story of the ship Clotilda, which transported West Africans from Dahomey to Mobile, Alabama, where the slaves emancipated after the Civil War founded their own town.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Parts 1–2, Parts 3–4, Parts 5–6, Parts 7–9, Parts 10–11
40 words 17 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. adobe
    sun-dried brick used in hot dry climates
    My family’s home was a round,
    two-story adobe with a terrace.
  2. lull
    a pause during which things are calm
    When there’s a lull,
    I sneak away to find Adérónké̩, who waits for me
    at de trunk of a mahogany tree.
  3. foothold
    a place that provides support for standing or climbing
    “Watch where
    I put my feet,” she says, scrambling higher
    before my eyes can find her first foothold.
  4. initiation
    a formal entry into an organization or position or office
    For four years I’ve been training
    to be a soldier, getting ready for my
    initiation into orò, de highest level
    of our Yorùbá religion.
  5. stance
    standing posture
    He hands me de spear, shows me again
    how to settle my weight into my thighs,
    reminds me to use my sight. “Keep your
    eyes open, and the spear will follow.”
    I drop into de proper stance, but my mind’s
    stuck on orò.
  6. secede
    withdraw from an organization or polity
    “We should secede,” I argue.
    “Handle our own slave trade, set our own prices.
    It’s the only way to turn a profit.”
  7. disabuse
    free somebody from an erroneous belief
    “Well,” he says, “until that happens,
    the threat of being lynched will disabuse anyone of
    notions about bringing slaves in illegally.”
  8. lynch
    kill without legal sanction
    “You put more faith in the government
    than I do. No one’s going to lynch me.”
  9. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    “Gentlemen,” I say, my voice ominous as a windless sky.
    “I’ll wager you all a thousand dollars
    that I can smuggle a good number of slaves back
    to Mobile without the authorities knowing about it.”
  10. manipulate
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    Also, he’s a decade younger than me, which makes him
    easier to manipulate, if need be.
  11. hull
    the frame or body of a ship
    Captain Tim has hardly taken a breath
    since we sat down. That man plows through
    life like a ship’s hull through water.
  12. intrigue
    cause to be interested or curious
    My eyes
    about pop when he makes his offer.
    It intrigues me.
  13. bluster
    vain and empty boasting
    For all his bluster,

    Captain Tim doesn’t let anything
    get in the way of his goals.
  14. squall
    sudden violent winds, often accompanied by precipitation
    I’ve known a thousand different skies, every kind of storm and squall.
  15. schooner
    sailing vessel used in former times
    And I know exactly what Foster and Meaher

    intend when they tell everyone I’m a schooner to be used for lumber trade,
    that I will prove graceful and fast.
  16. complicity
    guilt as a confederate in a crime or offense
    Like it or not, I’m part of the illegal slave trade, a vessel of complicity.
  17. venture
    a commercial undertaking that risks a loss
    As work progresses on the Clotilda, Foster and I
    meet regularly to discuss our venture.
  18. diversify
    vary in order to spread risk or to expand
    It’s important for a man to invest in himself,
    to diversify his ambitions.
  19. legacy
    a gift of personal property by will
    It’s important that I leave a legacy for my family.
  20. swell
    a rising and falling movement of the surface of the sea
    I’ve been ashore
    too long. I need to feel the swells beneath
    my feet—and fill my empty pockets.
  21. thwart
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
    Thanks to my quick action,
    de attack is thwarted before
    de intruders even reach our gates.
  22. commodity
    any good that can be bought and sold
    I’ll line it up same as Foster’s done the crew:
    by promising healthy payment—and not revealing
    what commodities lie wedged inside until it’s too late.
  23. retrofit
    substitute new or modernized parts for older ones
    Once all that is done, I’ll clean up, retrofit, rename,
    and reuse the Clotilda.
  24. premonition
    a feeling of evil to come
    I ignore the odd ache in my bones.
    Another sailor might call it a premonition.
  25. mutinous
    characterized by a rebellion against authority
    It’s me leading a potentially mutinous
    crew across temperamental oceans.
  26. clamor
    make loud demands
    Seamen
    will clamor to set sail with me at the helm.
  27. helm
    steering mechanism for a vessel
    Seamen
    will clamor to set sail with me at the helm.
  28. succession
    a following of one thing after another in time
    One problem after
    another hits in succession.
  29. arrogant
    having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance
    What good they could
    do if they weren’t so arrogant, so bent on profit and breaking the law.
  30. relentless
    never-ceasing
    De season is marked by dry,
    relentless northeasterly winds
    that coat everything in dust.
  31. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
    We outrace it with an alacrity that causes
    me shortness of breath to even recall.
  32. weary
    physically and mentally fatigued
    Our ship is crippled. My crew is weary.
  33. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    The crew lifts a cheer as high as the sails
    and sets about their tasks with renewed fervor.
  34. revolt
    rise up against an authority
    If only I had words, I’d shout them out: Revolt, crew, revolt!
  35. sober
    completely lacking in playfulness
    He clears his throat,
    then offers a sober smile. “What’s all this about?”
  36. appease
    cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
    The air shifts as the crew nods their approval. Everyone
    drifts back to work, appeased by the promise of money.
  37. niggle
    worry unnecessarily or excessively
    But something niggles my brain. Foster was too easy to sway.
  38. consul
    a diplomat appointed to protect a government's interests
    When we reach Portugal, the American
    consul and Portuguese officials point
    to the paperwork.
  39. grim
    harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
    But their grim faces
    soon rosy right up. I offer them Mobile’s finest sparklers.
  40. dignitary
    an important or influential person
    I give each dignitary’s wife a fine scarf.
Created on Sat Nov 25 15:10:48 EST 2023 (updated Sun Nov 26 17:03:29 EST 2023)

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