Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts
Free with Joint Museum Admission
As America grew closer to revolution, white colonists in Massachusetts expressed growing concern about enslavement at the hands of Great Britain. But for their Black neighbors, the terror of slavery had existed in the “cradle of liberty” for generations.
What did slavery look like in colonial Massachusetts? How did enslaved people in Boston resist their enslavement and enslavers? Join Revolutionary Spaces for Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts, a new 60-minute guided tour through the Old South Meeting House and Old State House that examines these questions and more.
Learn how slavery was first established in colonial Massachusetts and how the practice in New England differed from southern plantation-style slavery. Discover how enslaved people in Massachusetts used religious spaces and practices, such as marriage and baptism, and government institutions like the courts and petitioning to protect their autonomy and community. You will also hear stories of resistance by Scipio Gunney, Phillis Wheatley, Zipporah Potter Atkins, and Belinda Sutton.
The Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts Tour is FREE for anyone who purchases joint museum admission to the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Not valid with single-site admission. Tours depart daily at 2:00 from the Main Hall of the Old South Meeting House. Tours are subject to change and/or cancellation due to staff availability.