Slavery and Freedom Speaker Series: “American Irony: Religious Freedom and Slavery in Colonial Newport”

The Little Compton Historical Society invites you to come hear Keith Stokes speak on the simultaneous rise of religious freedom and slavery in colonial Newport. He will explore the religious, civic and commerce evolution of Newport through the eyes and experiences of enslaved and, later free, African men, women and children, including the founding of several of the earliest free African education, social and religious institutions in America.

Mr. Stokes is the co-founder of the 1696 Heritage Group, an organization dedicated to the study and sharing of African-American history in Newport. The talk is free and open to the public.

The talk is supported by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and is part of the Slavery and Freedom Speaker’s series celebrating 200 years of freedom in Little Compton.