UPROAR: A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CREATIVITY

Tour Guide & Sankofa Scholar: Valerie Fagin Can you imagine the hustle and bustle of a prosperous Colonial seaport town? This tour invites you to discover the world of early Portsmouth’s from the perspective of African American women. In spite of enslavement and hardship, these women fought for freedom, defied a president, and educated generations of children to follow. Hear their stories about love and faith and struggle, as you walk past the homes of the families who enslaved them.…

Free and open to the public One-third of Muslims in the United States are Black, and many African immigrants resettled in New England over the past two decades are Muslim. Despite this, pervasive images of Muslims are limited to people of Arab identity. For this panel, presenters will explore the intersections of their identities as Black Muslims living in post 9/11 New England. Their shared stories will offer perspective and insights about what it means to be part of a…

Join us to Celebrate! Please come celebrate with us the release of our first book! Black Heritage Trail of NH has published its first of a planned series of books on Self-Guided Walking Tours in different areas of New Hampshire. First in the series is: Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Contributing editors are: Valerie Cunningham, founding member of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail JerriAnne Boggis, Executive Director, Black Heritage Trail of NH Anne Richter…

A performance of story, music and history. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments and Q&A after the performance. The 2nd annual event honoring the U.N International Decade for People of African Descent Presented by Artists Building Capacity as World Citizens A dramatic performance by NH Seacoast actor Kevin Wade Mitchell, through story and music, he explores the life of a little-known New England historical figure of color, whose story was nearly lost to time. Read more about ABC…

Ben Butler, a Union general, had just arrived as commander of Ft. Monroe in Virginia in 1861 when three Black men asked him for sanctuary. Should he honor the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and return the men to their “owner”? This is the central question of Richard Strand’s “Ben Butler,” a surprisingly witty, as well as serious, play that will be read by local actors Wednesday, Jan 16, 7:30 pm, at Players’ Ring, 105 Marcy Street, Portsmouth. Butler’s decision,…

Free and open to the public This dialogue will explore the history of law and punishment in New Hampshire, disproportionate incarceration rates of racial and ethnic minorities, and the social impact of mass incarceration. Presenters will examine the consequences of incarceration on communities of color, intensifying surveillance and criminalization of poor and Black communities, and what a shift from punitive to restorative justice within our criminal system could look like. Presenters: Devon Chaffee, Bill Celester, Carlos Camacho, Dan Feltes (TBC)…

Free and open to the public In a compelling speech about race in America, Mitch Landrieu said, “There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it.” Through discussing physical and artistic sites of memory, this panel will explore how widely accepted narratives of our collective past shape and inform our collective present social identity. Presenters: David Watters, Eric Aldrich, Joel Christian Gill Moderator: Graziella Parati More Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks info

Despite improvements in education, social mobility and many other critical arenas, large racial and ethnic disparities still exist in the U.S. Years of intentional government policies that removed lands and resources from Native Americans and restricted access for African Americans have created a significant wealth divide in the country that continues to create inequities faced today. This panel will explore how policies and environmental issues disenfranchised the very groups they should equalize. More Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks info

Black women have been leaders in this country for centuries as abolitionists, voting rights advocates, college founders, civil rights defenders, labor leaders, entrepreneurs and more. Often, their work to overcome race and gender stereotypes have been seen as unusual or magical serving to minimize their labor and talent. Through shared stories and an exploration of the feminist movement, this panel will focus on some of New Hampshire’s most successful Black women and their journey to the powerful position they hold…

The relationship between religion and race in American is complex. 20th century scholars ranked world religions on an evolutionary scale. Not surprisingly, many of the religions deemed “primitive” were also those practiced by indigenous, non-White populations. This evolutionary ranking plays a vital role in the construction, deconstruction, and transgression of racial identities and religious boundaries in the country today. This panel of theologians will explore the relationship between church, race, and state and the role the church could play in…