Freedom and Belonging in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Join historian and professor Akeia de Barros Gomes as she explores the communities and experiences of Black and Indigenous Rhode Islanders during the Revolutionary Era, with a focus on the social history of slavery and the enduring legacies of freedom-making. Hosted at the Newport Historical Society Richard Burnham Resource Center, this second session in the series “All Men Are Created Equal” highlights the resilience, identity, and humanity of those who reimagined belonging within and beyond the constraints of slavery.

Freedom Reimagined

Black and Indigenous Freedom, Belonging, and Resilience in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Join historian, professor, and Director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History, Akeia de Barros Gomes, for “All Men Are Created Equal,” a program exploring freedom, belonging, and the experiences of Black and Indigenous Rhode Islanders during the Revolutionary Era.

The program highlights Rhode Island’s connection to slavery and the transatlantic slave trade while centering the stories of people who redefined humanity, resilience, and freedom within the system itself. Through themes of rebirth, community, and joy, the discussion examines how these histories continue to shape Rhode Island’s cultural identity and legacy today.

Online Resources

Discover Rhode Island’s rich past through virtual exhibits, from the 1st Rhode Island Regiment and Indigenous culture to Black heritage and industrial innovation. Explore archives, videos, and galleries from museums and historical sites across the state.