When Can My Child Start to Learn About Slavery?

Parents often ask, “When is the right time to teach my child about slavery?” It’s a question educators and families everywhere are wrestling with. The answer is clear: children are ready to start learning about slavery and its place in American history earlier than you might think.

At the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH), we believe that teaching the whole truth about American history—including slavery, systemic racism, and Black achievement—is essential. When we tell these stories honestly and completely, children gain empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.

And here in New Hampshire—a state often thought of as historically white—there is a rich and untold Black history waiting to be explored.

Why Teaching Children About Slavery Matters

Many parents worry that topics like slavery are too harsh for kids. However, research in child development indicates that children as young as preschool age already understand concepts such as fairness, justice, and equality. These are precisely the values needed to begin discussing slavery and its impact on America in age-appropriate ways.

Avoiding the topic doesn’t protect children—it leaves them without context. When we provide children with the language and history to understand what they see around them, we empower them to become thoughtful and informed citizens.

At the Black Heritage Trail of NH, we’ve seen how students respond when they learn that real people in their own communities fought for freedom, education, and dignity. Those lessons resonate far more deeply than abstract textbook facts.

What Children Can Learn About Slavery by Age

Grades 4–5:
Students can begin by exploring the stories of enslaved people and communities that demonstrate courage and resilience. They can learn about freedom seekers like Ona Judge, who escaped slavery and found refuge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Grades 6–8:
Middle schoolers can discuss the systems that allowed slavery to persist and how Black Americans resisted those systems through education, activism, and community building. They can also explore how slavery existed in the North, including here in New Hampshire.

Grades 9–12:
High school students are ready to tackle the whole history—the economics of slavery, the abolition movement, Reconstruction, and the enduring effects of systemic racism. This is also an ideal time to explore the contributions of New Hampshire’s Black leaders, writers, and innovators.

New Hampshire’s Hidden Black History

Despite its reputation as a small, predominantly white New England state, New Hampshire has a deep and diverse Black heritage. The Black Heritage Trail of NH works to bring these hidden stories to light through historical markers, tours, and educational programming.

Some of the most powerful local stories include:

• Ona Judge (c. 1773–1848), enslaved by George Washington, escaped and lived as a free woman in Portsmouth for the rest of her life, refusing to return despite intense pursuit.
  
  
• Prince Whipple (c. 1750–1796), enslaved in Portsmouth, fought in the Revolutionary War and later petitioned for his freedom.
  
  
• Wentworth Cheswill (1746–1817), America’s first Black elected official, was a Revolutionary War patriot and community leader in Newmarket, NH.
  
  
• Richard Potter (1783–1835), a renowned magician and ventriloquist, lived in Andover, NH, and became one of the first Black celebrities in America.
  
  
• Harriet E. Wilson (1825–1900), author of Our Nig, became the first African American woman to publish a novel in English.
  
  

These stories demonstrate that Black history is inextricably linked to New Hampshire's history. They show children that the fight for freedom, creativity, and equality took place right here in their own communities.

Why Teaching the Full, Honest Story Matters

Telling children the unsanitized truth about slavery and racism isn’t about blame—it’s about understanding. When young people learn about the resilience and contributions of Black Americans, they see strength, creativity, and humanity, not just suffering.

By facing the more complex truths of U.S. history, we teach children how to think critically, empathize deeply, and recognize the importance of justice in their own time.

How the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire Brings History to Life

In addition to all-ages programming, the Black Heritage Trail of NH offers educational programs suited for grades 4–12 that connect students to the people and places behind these crucial stories.

Educational Programs Include:

• Guided Tours: Explore historic Portsmouth and other sites tied to Black history, including homes, burial grounds, and landmarks associated with notable figures such as Ona Judge and Prince Whipple.
• Site Visits: Interactive sessions where students explore letters, oral histories, and artifacts from New Hampshire’s Black past.
  
  

How Parents Can Talk to Their Children About Slavery

Here are five practical tips for discussing slavery at home:

1. Start Early, Stay Honest: Introduce basic concepts like fairness and freedom before expanding into deeper history.
2. Use Local Stories: Learning about New Hampshire’s own Black heroes makes history real and relatable.
3. Encourage Curiosity: Let children ask questions and express feelings.
4. Connect the Past and Present: Show how historical struggles for justice connect to current events.
5. Visit the Trail Together: Walking the Black Heritage Trail brings history to life in a way no textbook can.
   
   

Get Involved: Explore Black History in New Hampshire

Teaching children about slavery and Black history isn’t just about the past—it’s about shaping a more just future.

Join us at the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire to explore:

• Student Tours: Living History Walking Tour Experiences suitable for Grades 4–12.
  
  
• Youth-Friendly Programs: From Juneteenth celebrations to Frederick Douglass July 4th readings.
  
  
• New Hampshire’s Black History: Study Ona Judge, Prince Whipple, and other Black historical figures that shaped the Granite State.

Learn more and book your program at blackheritagetrailnh.org.

Final Thoughts

There’s no single “right” age to teach children about slavery. What matters is honesty, empathy, and engagement. When children learn history as it truly happened—including the stories of people like Ona Judge, Harriet E. Wilson, Prince Whipple, Richard Potter, and Wentworth Cheswill—they gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be American.

Through programs at the Black Heritage Trail of NH, we can help the next generation learn that history is not just about the past—it’s a living story of resilience and community that continues to shape our world.

History lives here. Let’s teach it truthfully.
Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org to learn more.

Author Bio

Quinci Worthey is the Senior Program Director at the the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. He is originally from Michigan and moved to New Hampshire shortly after college to participate in an AmeriCorps program. He has lived in New Hampshire for 15 years now and has worked primarily in the non-profit sector with emphasis on social determinants of health, primarily in education. He has participated in a number of leadership programs such as the Leadership New Hampshire, New Leaders Council, and Equity Leaders Fellowship. He is also a board member for the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) of New Hampshire. Quinci enjoys playing and coaching soccer, traveling, building LEGO sets, and helping youth throughout his community.