Slavery and Freedom Speakers??? Series Continues in February
Talks on Captain Paul Cuffe and Unfreedom in Westport, MA
LITTLE COMPTON ??? Two speakers will share their research and findings on slavery and freedom in Westport, MA. The first will focus on one of New England???s most prosperous and politically active men of color, Westport resident Paul Cuffe (1759-1817) and the second will focus on ???Unfreedom??? in the broader community.
The talks are part of the Little Compton Historical Society???s Slavery and Freedom Speakers??? Series and are sponsored by the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities, an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Both events are free and open to the public and are the last of the series. They will be held at the Little Compton Community Center on the Commons.
JEFFREY FORTIN
On Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 7 PM, Jeffrey Fortin will present ???Two Generations of Freedom: From Kofi to Paul Cuffe,??? the story of Kofi Slocum, an enslaved man who secured his freedom and his son, Quaker businessman and sea captain, Paul Cuffe. Dr. Fortin is the Paul Cuffe Fellow at Mystic Seaport Museum and Assistant Professor of History at Emmanuel College. His book on the life of Paul Cuffe will be published soon.
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TONY CONNORS
Last in the series on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 7PM, Tony Connors, President of the Westport Historical Society, will present ???Westport???s Stories of Unfreedom??? based on his extensive research using Westport???s primary source documents.????
Because of changing borders and family connections the ties between Westport???s and Little Compton???s historic people of color are
strong. The Little Compton Historical Society???s Slavery and Freedom Speaker Series is part of a year- long project honoring the 200th anniversary of the end of slavery in Little Compton.????
The Society has spent three years investigating the history of slavery in Little Compton and now offers a book and a special exhibition on the subject entitled ???If Jane Should Want to Be Sold, Stories of
Enslavement, Indenture and Freedom in Little Compton, Rhode Island.???????
The exhibition is open every Saturday from 1 to 5 PM and by appointment. It will close February 28. Admission to the exhibition is free to members of the Little Compton Historical Society and $5 for non-members.
Reservations are not required for the talks. For more information please call 401-635-4035.