STRATHAM - When many people think of slavery, they think of farm hands on cotton fields in the South. It’s not necessarily automatic to think New Hampshire’s history includes slavery, but it does.
Local black historian Valerie Cunningham of Portsmouth will be discussing the African-American history of the Seacoast during a session at Wiggin Memorial Library at 7 p.m. on Monday.
"I can offer some information that will open the way for them to see and think about it, maybe for the first time," said Cunningham, who established the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail in Portsmouth several years ago.
Her discussion will touch upon the Colonial period from the early 1600s to the Revolutionary War, because it’s the time period that’s most unknown and misunderstood in terms of enslavement of black Americans in the Seacoast.
Cunningham will discuss what enslaved people in the area were doing at the time; how they got here; who they worked for; how slavery ended in New Hampshire; and what happened to the enslaved after slavery was abolished in America.
Although it wasn’t too prevalent in this part of the country, Cunningham will mention the details of the underground railroad.
At Monday night’s session, area residents will learn how slavery ended in New England 50 years earlier than it did in other states around the country, which was after the Civil War.
"It is easy for generations to vilify the South and ignore their own history," Cunningham said. "The first thing that is hard for people to grasp is that it existed in New Hampshire."
The area is rich in African-American history. Portsmouth is home of Prince Whipple, a black soldier who was pictured in the famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. A local African-American became one of the first women crane operators in the country at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during World War II when men were overseas.
During her discussions, participants always seem shocked by the realities of enslavement, she said. Slaves were viewed as taxable property like cows and tractors. They couldn’t walk outside after 9 p.m. without a note from their owner. They couldn’t entertain one another.
During Colonial days, New Hampshire newspapers featured ads for runaway slaves.
"These weren’t happy slaves anymore here than they were in the South," she said. "It’s important for people to understand there is a back story to everything."
Cunningham has dedicated her life to researching and educating others on African-American history in New England. "I became interested in local black history because my friends and family were involved in the civil rights movement," she said. "It’s grown into my life work."
She said she hopes her talks educate others about the rich history on the Seacoast and inspires them to do some research of their own at the local library, historical society and town hall.
Vicky Avery, of the Stratham Heritage Commission, will lead a discussion at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 at Wiggin Memorial Library about the history of two slaves named Caesar from Greenland and Stratham.
For more information about other adult events planned, call the library at 772-4346.
