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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
Here are five practical tips for discussing slavery at home:
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:
Learn more and book your program at blackheritagetrailnh.org.
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.
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.