Research Materials

Sunday, February 1 | 2:00 PM  | Portsmouth Public Library  | Portsmouth, NH

This opening conversation traces the evolution of Black speechmaking, from the fiery antislavery addresses of Frederick Douglass delivered here in New Hampshire to the soaring cadences of Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Malcolm X. Participants will explore how oratory served as both a survival strategy and a weapon of resistance, affirming African American speech as a vital force for social change.

The Black Heritage Trail of NH, The Music Hall Lounge, and New Hampshire PBS present a special screening of excerpts from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. Following the screening, is a moderated conversation between author and historian Glenn Knoblock and Black heritage Trail executive director JerriAnne Boggis, examining the role of African Americans in the American Revolution.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, examines how America's founding turned the world upside down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.

NHPBS in partnership with organizations across the state will host a series of interactive community screeners and conversations exploring the themes of democracy, liberty, freedom and independence. 

Sunday, February 8 | 4:00 PM  | Temple Israel  | Portsmouth, NH

The Black preacher has long held a sacred and central role in African American public speech. Beyond their role as religious leaders, preachers have historically served as political voices, cultural transmitters, community organizers, and skilled rhetoricians. This dialogue explores how the pulpit evolved into both a sanctuary and a platform for liberation, influencing the moral and political discourse within communities.