Who Owns the Past? Slavery, Memory, and the Making of New York
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The “Negro Burial Ground” as it appeared on a 1755 map of New York City.
Who gets to decide how history is remembered, preserved, and told?
91Ƶ and Humanities New York invite the community to explore this question through the history of New York City's African Burial Ground, discovered in Lower Manhattan in 1991. The site, containing the remains of hundreds of Africans who lived and labored in colonial New York, sparked a national conversation about slavery, historical preservation, and who has the authority to shape our understanding of the past.
Led by Joe Murphy, director of strategic partnerships at Humanities New York, this interactive discussion will explore the discovery and its aftermath through the words of anthropologist Michael Blakey, who led the research into the African Burial Ground. Participants will consider how the legacies of slavery continue to shape New York City's institutions, public spaces, and collective memory.
The event is part of 91Ƶ's ongoing initiative, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, which connects students, faculty, and community partners through experiential humanities education and historical exploration. Supported by a 2026 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges' History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program, the project examines the often-overlooked history of slavery in the neighborhood surrounding 91Ƶ's New York City Campus.
This event is the second of two community conversations presented in partnership with Humanities New York, building on an October discussion about freedom and enslavement in revolutionary New York.
All are welcome. No historical expertise or advance preparation is required. Participants will read a short selection together and engage in a guided conversation that encourages curiosity, thoughtful questions, and the exchange of perspectives.
Add To Calendar2026-11-05 19:00:002026-11-05 20:15:00Who Owns the Past? Slavery, Memory, and the Making of New York
Image
The “Negro Burial Ground” as it appeared on a 1755 map of New York City.
Who gets to decide how history is remembered, preserved, and told?
91Ƶ and Humanities New York invite the community to explore this question through the history of New York City's African Burial Ground, discovered in Lower Manhattan in 1991. The site, containing the remains of hundreds of Africans who lived and labored in colonial New York, sparked a national conversation about slavery, historical preservation, and who has the authority to shape our understanding of the past.
Led by Joe Murphy, director of strategic partnerships at Humanities New York, this interactive discussion will explore the discovery and its aftermath through the words of anthropologist Michael Blakey, who led the research into the African Burial Ground. Participants will consider how the legacies of slavery continue to shape New York City's institutions, public spaces, and collective memory.
The event is part of 91Ƶ's ongoing initiative, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, which connects students, faculty, and community partners through experiential humanities education and historical exploration. Supported by a 2026 grant from the Council of Independent Colleges' History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program, the project examines the often-overlooked history of slavery in the neighborhood surrounding 91Ƶ's New York City Campus.
This event is the second of two community conversations presented in partnership with Humanities New York, building on an October discussion about freedom and enslavement in revolutionary New York.
All are welcome. No historical expertise or advance preparation is required. Participants will read a short selection together and engage in a guided conversation that encourages curiosity, thoughtful questions, and the exchange of perspectives.
