I need to shoutout a few folks. Thanks to my ever patient editor @AEwbank & illustrator @aeyeduh who created the truly ~beautiful~ images which accompany my piece. I appreciate you both.
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There’s so much to be said about this piece and how it came to be that I honestly don’t know where to start! But I will say reporting this piece + the travel to Newport that pinged my curiosity absolutely changed me. And challenged me.
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Most surprising was learning how integral chattel slavery was to colonial New England. People paint slavery as solely a Southern thing or problem—when as far north as Rhode Island (especially in the seaport city of Newport) immense wealth was built upon slave labor.
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Prime example of how slavery permeates the history & legacy of everything in Newport—on Washington Square in the city center there’s Old Colony House. Rhode Islanders declared independence from England there in 1776. It’s celebrated annually. Enslaved Africans built that house.pic.twitter.com/8RMlUeSEHi
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Traveling to learn more Black history in this country has not only has empowered me but given me hope. Within our history there is a blueprint for the future. You can ground yourself in words, thoughts & paths of our ancestors. Then start to configure a way forward.
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I hope learning about Duchess Quamino, her life and her passion—and talent—for baking offers some light from the past. Stories like these are so important & underknown. I’m honored to have a small part in changing that.
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Congrats, twin!
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Thanks twin!

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A STORY. This is so well done, sis. Thank you for excavating history in this way.
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Thank you so much, sis!
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