Panel #1: Things They Carried: An African Philosophy on War, Surviving Enslavement and CItizenship 

February 2, 2025 | 2 PM | Portsmouth Public Library

African societies had deep-rooted traditions of military strategy and guerrilla warfare, often used to defend against invaders or internal conflict. Enslaved Africans carried these traditions with them, applying their knowledge of strategy, resistance, and rebellion to push back against oppression.

This panel will explore how African philosophies of war and cosmology helped enslaved Africans endure and cope with the trauma of enslavement. Panelists will discuss how these spiritual and communal frameworks fostered resilience, resistance, and hope, empowering the enslaved to recognize their internal strength and resist dehumanization.

More details to come.