Sail Newport’s Challenger Lecture Series is set to feature Keith Stokes on February 27 at 6 p.m. Stokes will present “African Heritage Mariners in the Colonial Era,” shedding light on how seafaring offered a path to freedom and prosperity for enslaved and free African men during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The talk will cover Newport’s involvement in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the evolution of African mariners. To bring history to life, Stokes plans to use artifacts from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society during his presentation.
Hinckley Yacht Services and Island Time Catering Co. are sponsoring the event, which will take place at Sail Newport, 72 Fort Adams Dr., Newport.
Attendees can park for free at Fort Adams State Park.
If you’re interested in attending, you can purchase tickets here: https://sailnewport.org/cls-payment-page-keith-stokes-africans-as-mariners-in-colonial-rhode-island/
