Dark Work Exhibit Lecture with Christy Clark-Pujara

Description

The business of slavery directly affected the experiences and realities of Black freedom throughout the first century of the United States. Join us on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5:30pm in welcoming scholar Christy Clark-Pujara to discuss her book Dark Work: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island, which explores the themes of Black resistance, the fight for freedom, and striving to build a community in a racially hostile colony and state.

A historian of colonial and early-19th century U.S. history, Dr. Clark-Pujara’s research examines the neglected and unexplored histories of African Americans in areas that historians have not sufficiently examined—specifically small towns and cities in the North and Midwest. Her work contends that the full dimensions of the African American and American experience cannot be fully appreciated without reference to how Black people managed their lives in places where they lived in small numbers—like early Rhode Island. She is currently Chair of the Department of African American Studies and Professor of African American Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. 

Doors open at 4:30pm for a complimentary reception and book signing along with the opportunity to view the Dark Work exhibit. Admission costs $10 per person, and $5 for RIHS members. A copy of the book is available for $28.00, or $25.20 for members. Advance tickets are recommended as space is limited to 30 attendees. The John Brown House Museum is located at 52 Power Street in Providence, parking is available off Charlesfield Street.

Date & Time

Mon, Jun 16, 2025 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue Details

John Brown House Museum

52 Power Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906

Rhode Island Historical Society