News Release

Why This Matters: Stories of Slavery and its Legacies

Date: February 13, 2020

On Saturday, February 8^th, more than 50 classroom teachers, museum educators, and historic site interpreters gathered at Salem Maritime National Historic Site to explore the stories and legacies of slavery in New England. Participants came from as close as down the street, like Julie Arrison-Bishop, Director of Community Engagement at the House of Seven Gables, and as far away as New York state, including park rangers from Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.
 

Education Specialist, Maryann Zujewski

NPS/John Hurley

"Staff from The House of Seven Gables were pleased to be a part of this event...Workshops and partnerships like this are invaluable to connecting with a more diverse community and sharing authentic historic experiences with the general public," said Arrison-Bishop.

But by far the furthest to travel was keynote speaker, Dr. Jared Ross Hardesty, associate professor of history at Western Washington University. Dr. Hardesty’s most recent publication, Black Lives, Native Lands, White Worlds: A History of Slavery in New England, explores the economic and cultural significance of slavery in a region some have argued is plagued by historical amnesia.

Dr. Hardesty began with an overview on the history of slavery in New England, before presenting useful online sources for conducting research into the individual lives of enslaved people. He then led the workshop through an interpretation of primary source materials – judicial records and runaway slave advertisements.

Afterwards, workshop participants chose from a series of breakout sessions aimed at exploring how the history of slavery makes its way from scholars – to teachers and interpreters – to students and the public.

Kevin Toro, Modern World & United States History teacher and Black Student Union Advisor at Arlington High School, led a session entitled, “An Authentic Approach to Hard History.” This presentation addressed some of the common concerns educators face when approaching “hard history” topics such as slavery and racism.

Kevin Toro leads breakout session: An Authentic Approach to Hard History

NPS/John Hurley

“So much of the rhetoric in education focuses on preparing learners for life outside the class, but often we overlook the role of empathy in a democratic society. In our current political and social climate, it is imperative to discuss and expose those we are educating to the real problems, or ‘Hard History,’ in ways that motivate learners towards action. Courses aimed at supporting educators, through authentic practices, are essential to extending equity to those who have been marginalized and ensuring the longevity of democracy in the United States.”

Using primary sources and landmark sites, Kevin introduced participants to an authentic pedagogy centered on promoting student engagement and insight.

The workshop concluded with a panel of four local community leaders, each of whom inspire individual and collective action by addressing the myriad of long-standing and detrimental racial disparities in our society.

Maryann Zujewski, education specialist at Salem Maritime, moderated the panel. Before introducing the speakers, she expressed her own motivation for prioritizing this work. “As a white woman, I am still and will be forever working on building my awareness and understanding on issues of slavery, race, and its legacies…Our purpose with this panel is to center the work of these community leaders; to understand how the black experience has shaped the world we all live in; and for us white people to consider ways we can learn to fight against privilege power, and oppression.”

Panel speakers Jacquelynn Coles (left), President of Ralph F. Browne Jr. Chapter & lifetime member of Blacks in Government (BIG); and Nicole Mcclain (right), President of North Shore Juneteenth Association

NPS/John Hurley

The panel speakers tackled topics such as: “American culture minimizes the legacy and impact of 250 years of chattel slavery, or reinforces the impression that it all happened in the ancient past. How can our schools, museums, and historic sites tell a truer story about the history of slavery and its effects on people alive today?”

In 2019 and 2020, the National Park Service is commemorating 400 years of African American experience and history. At Salem Maritime, park rangers are committed to recognizing and sharing stories that contribute to the culture of our nation – including those from voices that have been marginalized in the past. The title of this workshop came from people asking, "Why does this history matter? Can't we just focus on the positive and ignore the bad?"

Why This Matters workshop participants in St. Joseph Hall

NPS/John Hurley

Salem Maritime Superintendent, Paul DePrey, described the site as, “a gateway to better understand New England’s maritime history…all of it. This includes bringing luxury trade goods from India and Asia, as well as sending cod that sustained the enslavement of people in the West Indies. New England’s maritime history also includes local enslavement and resistance in the fight against slavery. We have a great staff working to increase awareness and collaborate with partners in this effort.”

Workshop participants hailed from a variety of community organizations – including National Park Service sites, public schools, historical societies, town governments, private & public museums, and racial justice teams.

Classroom teachers had the opportunity to earn professional development points (PDPs) through park partner Essex National Heritage Area. Salem State University students from the public history department participated as volunteers. A big thanks to all who attended and made this workshop possible!