Black Liberation: Seeking Freedom in 18th and 19th Century Newark
The Newark History Society’s first program of the fall, Black Liberation: Seeking Freedom in 18th and 19th Century Newark, will take place on Tuesday, September 19 at 6:00pm in the James Brown African American Room (second floor, rear) at the Newark Public Library.
In the 18th and 19th century, Blacks in Newark challenged slavery by seeking freedom themselves, helping others make their way to freedom, and advocating for abolition. In this program, James Amemasor, research specialist at the New Jersey Historical Society, will discuss how individual enslaved persons in Newark sought freedom during and after the American Revolution, and the efforts of enslavers to track them down.
Then, Noelle Lorraine Williams, director of the African American History Program at the New Jersey Historical Commission, will describe the determined collective action by Black churches and others in pre-Civil War Newark to fight slavery and help people find freedom via the Underground Railroad.
This is a hybrid program co-sponsored by NJPAC and the Newark Public Library, and offered both in-person (with light refreshments) and live-streamed via Zoom webinar. It is free and open to the public.
Please RSVP for in-person by emailing newarkhistorysoc@gmail.com; free off-site parking available at Essex County parking deck at 20-55 Bridge Street.
To watch on Zoom, register here.
