The painful effects of racial bias and the long legacy of slavery are now on full display in our country. Honest communication about race and the legacy of slavery in America is necessary to initiate change and foster a more equitable society. Through the Jupiter Hammon project, Preservation Long Island encourages people to enter into dialogue with those around them, to examine their own biases, and work towards true equality in words and in practice.
Jupiter Hammon and Phillis Wheatley were the only two enslaved writers in North America to publish works during the 18th century. Their poetry and prose reflected their deep Christian faiths and contributed to larger discussions about liberty and slavery on both sides of the Atlantic.
During the fall of 2020, Preservation Long Island invites the public to participate in three roundtables that will explore the legacy of enslavement on Long Island and the life of Jupiter Hammon. For those interested in background information leading up to each of the programs, below is a collection of […]
Preservation Long Island has been introducing visitors to Jupiter Hammon, America’s first published black poet, at Joseph Lloyd Manor since the house opened to the public in the 1980s. Hammon’s life and writings offer an exceptionally nuanced view of slavery and freedom on Long Island before and after the American Revolution.