Slavery and Freedom

The history of Salem Maritime National Historic Site is deeply tied to the slavery and freedom of people of African descent. The work of recovering this history is a collective process. Four threads that have emerged from examining this history are: (1) Salem’s role in the global and local economy of slavery, (2) the life, love, and labor of enslaved and freed people, (3) Black resistance, liberation, and the struggle for equality, and (4) the end of slavery which left many people in an ambiguous state between enslaved and freed.

Watch this 8-minute video to learn how staff of Salem Maritime engaged with the community, students, academic and independent scholars, activists, and educators to understand and share this critical history. This page is a work in progress and will continue to evolve as additional resources are developed.