In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World

In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World immerses visitors in the freedom-making practices of Black communities navigating both the histories and the legacies of racial slavery and colonialism. A dynamic mix of history, art, and media, “In Slavery’s Wake” makes connections between Black freedom-makers across time and invites visitors into a global conversation on…

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Crossing The Line

For Fair Housing Month in April, the Washington Park Branch Library will be hosting the traveling display Crossing the Line: The Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches of 1967-1968, provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society. To celebrate this exhibit, attend an informative panel discussion on the Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches.

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Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad

Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad highlights little-known stories and describes the less-understood maritime side of the Underground Railroad, including the impact of African Americans’ paid and unpaid waterfront labor. Self-emancipation along the Underground Railroad was not entirely by overland routes. A great number of enslaved persons made their way to freedom using…

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The Smithsonian Looks at How the Slave Trade Shaped the World

“In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World” is the product of a 10-year collaboration among nearly two dozen curators at 10 institutions on four continents. The exhibit goes beyond the Smithsonian’s traditional American focus to tell a global story of the ways that slavery shaped the modern world.

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