The 45-minute video presents sites and notable African Americans from Concord’s founding until recent times. It tells the story of the first meeting of the legislature in the new capital in 1782, at the Rev. Timothy Walker’s house and warehouse, where Governor, Governor’s Council, and legislature, were served by Prince, Violet, and Luce, enslaved in his household. It includes stories of enslavement, emancipation, the underground railroad, abolitionism, and the visits of Frederick Douglass. In more recent times, the tour tells the story of renowned African American illustrator, Mel Bolden, and concludes with an interview with Sen. Melanie Levesque. The tour is part of BHTNH’s mission to expand statewide, and the video will be a resource for teachers and for community learning and discussion.
BHTNH board member, tour co-host and writer Sen. David Watters remarked, “African American history is New Hampshire history, and this is especially true in the capital city, since actions by the legislature determined the course of racial relations from the beginning.”
BHTNH Director JerriAnne Boggis: “By reintroducing these stories of New Hampshire’s early Black citizens, we create a space for dialogues around race, diversity, and inclusion. These corrective narratives make it possible to decrease barriers of misunderstanding and decrease people’s racial anxiety.”
The video can be accessed on our YouTube channel and there soon will be a guide to resources to accompany the video.
