The Unknown Heroes of Brooklyn's Past
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher dominated city
politics for almost half of the 19th century. He held fundraisers to
emancipate enslaved girls and young women.
(Brooklyn Historical Society)
A new exhibition highlights some unknown abolitionists from Brooklyn.
The free, interactive show at The Brooklyn Historical Society tells the stories of residents who fought for equal rights in the 19th century. At that time, one-third of Brooklyn residents were enslaved Africans, as the area was a commercial center producing cotton, tobacco and sugar.
Historian Prithi Kanakamedala curated the show. In this interview, she said one of the abolitionists, Sylvanus Smith, committed what she calls a very ordinary act: he bought land.
"And by buying property he is able to vote, and in being able to vote he can count himself as a citizen of the United States, even though he is an African American and those rights were not guaranteed for African Americans at that time," she said.
"Brooklyn Abolitionists / In Pursuit of Freedom" will remain on view through December 2018.
The free, interactive show at The Brooklyn Historical Society tells the stories of residents who fought for equal rights in the 19th century. At that time, one-third of Brooklyn residents were enslaved Africans, as the area was a commercial center producing cotton, tobacco and sugar.
Historian Prithi Kanakamedala curated the show. In this interview, she said one of the abolitionists, Sylvanus Smith, committed what she calls a very ordinary act: he bought land.
"And by buying property he is able to vote, and in being able to vote he can count himself as a citizen of the United States, even though he is an African American and those rights were not guaranteed for African Americans at that time," she said.
"Brooklyn Abolitionists / In Pursuit of Freedom" will remain on view through December 2018.
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Gisele Regatao, Executive Producer, WNYC News
Gisele Regatao is the Executive Producer for WNYC News, where she oversees a team of producers and hosts, and the local content for Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She is also in charge of the cultural coverage coming out of the Newsroom.
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