Black Anti-Slavery Activists in 1850s Worcester, Massachusetts
In the nineteenth century, people fought against injustice in different ways. Some devoted their lives to fighting for the abolition, or immediate end, of slavery. They fought not just with weapons during the Civil War, but with words, writing and publishing pamphlets and newspapers, sharing the stories of enslaved people, and delivering speeches to persuade their fellow Americans to end slavery, a system that sat at the foundation of America’s economic and social order. This week, you’re going to learn more about abolitionists and activists in Worcester, Massachusetts, and you’re going to think about how you would persuade others to care about an issue that is important to you. At the end of the week, you will all have a chance to share your message and try to persuade your classmates.
Murals and Memory in Providence
For many Rhode Islanders, the history of this place begins in 1636 with the arrival of Roger Williams. Local monuments, waterways, parks, streets, and schools honor the experiences and contributions of the region’s early colonists. But for thousands of years before it was an English colony, the place many now call Rhode Island was home to the Narragansett Nation. But, the names, experiences, and contributions of these Indigenous forerunners are not as well preserved and visible throughout the local landscape. This lesson seeks to provide students with a more complete account of Rhode Island’s origins and endeavors to promote a greater understanding of the continued significance of historical erasure and settler colonialism.
Shifting Narratives: Thanksgiving and the National Day of Mourning
Thanksgiving in the United States is synonymous with food and family. Many Americans look forward to indulging in family recipes and reconnecting with loved ones on the fourth Thursday in November. However, this American tradition is not as old as you may think. Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863. Why 1863? The American Civil War was raging, and President Abraham Lincoln hoped the holiday would help Americans remember a moment when the nation was more united. The meeting between the Wampanoag and Pilgrims in 1621 became an idyllic example of unity and mutuality. However, the relationships and interactions between Indigenous people and the colonists who settled in the Dawnland were not as friendly as the Thanksgiving myth suggests.
People of Color in the Maritime World: The Inspiring Stories of Four Mariners
The lives of Venture Smith, Paul Cuffee, William Martin, and Amos Haskins help demonstrate both common themes in New England’s history and its at-times underexplored diversity. African, African American, Afro-Indigenous, and Indigenous people played an important role in the maritime world, including in whaling and shipping. Opportunities these men had in maritime professions were so important because of the many roles denied them on land. Their lives serve as a simple but powerful reminder that New England ports, waterfronts, and ships at sea were diverse spaces.