<

RI250 Educator Workshop: "All Men Are Created Equal"

  • April 7, 2026 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

  • The Newport Historical Society

    82 Touro Street
    Newport, Rhode Island 02840
Register Now
Description

The Rhode Island 250 Commission is pleased to present a six-part educator professional development series in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, organized by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Join historian, professor, and Director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History Akeia de Barros Gomes, on Tuesday, April 7 at 4:30 pm at the Newport Historical Society Richard Burnham Resource Center for this second session in the series, “'All Men Are Created Equal'"

“'All Men Are Created Equal" will explore the communities and experiences of Black and Indigenous Rhode Islanders during the Revolutionary Era, and will highlight the social history of slavery in Rhode Island. Rhode Island's role in the transatlantic slave trade has been the subject of a great deal of research and scholarship.  Yet the history of the system of slavery should not overshadow the stories of the people who recreated and reimagined themselves, their humanity, and their freedom within the boundaries of the system. Freedom is not the "opposite" of slavery—belonging is. Rhode Island's story of Black and Indigenous freedom-making, and its legacies of rebirth, regeneration, and joy remain with us.  They are part of the story of diaspora and global family and part of the tapestry of the state of Rhode Island.

All educators who attend will receive a $100 stipend and a letter for 1.5 hours of professional development. This workshop is for Rhode Island Educators only.

Akeia de Barros Gomes is the Director of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History at the Newport Historical Society and is a Visiting Scholar and Adjunct Lecturer at the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University.

Date & Time

Tue, Apr 7, 2026 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Venue Details

The Newport Historical Society

82 Touro Street
Newport, Rhode Island 02840 The Newport Historical Society
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


Find more Rhode Island Historical Society Events