Hope swirled through the packed gymnasium of the aptly named Robert Hope Community Center in the Africatown neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama on Thursday, as some 500 residents and descendants of the last known Africans brought in bondage to the United States listened to archaeologists and politicians discuss the discovery of the long-lost slaver Clotilda—and, more importantly, how the historic find might help heal old wounds and attract new investment.

It was an emotional day for many, mixed with the joy of discovery and potential opportunity for this unique African-American community and the painful memories of what their ancestors endured. (See how archaeologists pieced together clues to identify the lost ship.)

“This was a crime against humanity,” said Kamau