Indigenous slavery in New England was widespread in the 17th century, with Native people captured during conflicts, separated from their communities, and sold both locally and across the Atlantic. Many were sent to places such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, Spain, and Portugal, where their identities were often erased through mislabeling and the loss of names, tribal affiliations, and cultural markers. Oral histories preserved by descendants later helped reconnect families separated for centuries, revealing ties between Native communities in the Northeast and island populations in Bermuda. Current tribal members and researchers continue to document this history through collaborative archival work, reconstructing the scale of Native enslavement and its long-term effects on displacement, identity, and cultural continuity. The reporting draws on research from Lin Fisher, a Stolen Relations Project Research Cluster Faculty Fellow at the Simmons Center, whose work documents the often overlooked history of Indigenous enslavement in New England and beyond.

Opening November 15 at Overlap Gallery, "Forging Freedom: Atlantic Journeys" brings together ten contemporary artists to explore Black and Indigenous histories of freedom-making across the Atlantic world. Curated by Simmons Center Adjunct Lecturer in Slavery and Justice Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes, director of the Newport Historical Society’s Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History, the show reclaims untold stories through art, creativity, and community. The Center for Black History is set to open on Juneteenth 2026. The exhibition runs through December 20, with a curator talk on December 6 at 5pm.

Now on view at the Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, the Unfinished Conversation Series exhibition invites visitors to engage with stories from descendants of the enslaved and colonized. Drawing from a global archive of more than 150 interviews recorded across eight countries, the project sheds light on how the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism continue to shape lives today.

At Brown University, Ph.D. Simmons Center Race, Slavery, Colonialism and Capitalism Graduate Fellow Arlin Hill is reimagining how culture, power, and identity intertwine. Drawing on the Black Radical Tradition and inspired by thinkers like Sylvia Wynter and Cedric Robinson, Hill examines how colonial assumptions embedded in Western thought shape behavior and self-perception. His work bridges disciplines to uncover the deep connections between race, gender, and capitalism — and to imagine new modes of resistance. Through public panels and community dialogue, Hill invites others to reflect on how social realities are formed, sustained, and transformed.

At the Mystic Seaport Museum, "Entwined" honors the deep-rooted connections between Black and Indigenous communities. Part of the Reimagining New England Histories project and funded by a Mellon Just Futures grant, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey through centuries of interrelated Black and Indigenous traditions of seafaring and artmaking, revealing oft-ignored histories.

Brown professor Elena Shih spent years embedded in anti-trafficking organizations across Thailand and China, expecting to document the rescue of sex slavery victims. Instead, her award-winning research revealed a troubling reality: many "rescued" women were never trafficked at all, the rehabilitation programs often caused more harm than good, and the lucrative "slave-free" products sold to well-meaning Americans were built on a carefully crafted narrative that had little to do with what these women actually needed. Her findings challenge the entire anti-trafficking industry and raise uncomfortable questions about who really benefits from the business of rescue.

Simmons Center Slavery & Finance Research Cluster Fellow, and Simmons Center Faculty Advisory Board Member, Seth Rockman’s latest book, Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery, has earned widespread acclaim, including recognition as a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist in history. The book, more than 15 years in the making, examines the everyday objects—like shoes, cloth, and tools—produced in New England and shipped south to sustain the economy of slavery. By analyzing these artifacts and even recreating some through hands-on weaving, Rockman uncovers how such goods connected Northern industry to Southern bondage, embodying both opportunity and oppression.

The Simmons Center welcomes a new cohort of six Public Humanities MA Students to campus in the fall of 2025. This cohort is expected to graduate in 2027.

“The Tally” (Voyage of the Slaving Brig Sally 1764–1765) and “Voices from the Middle Passage” are now part of the Simmons Center’s permanent collection and are on view at the Center after being generously donated by the artist, Pamela Pike Gordinier.

In July 2025, we welcomed 15 High School students for a week of learning, reflection, and community-building focused on the often-untold histories of Black and Indigenous peoples in New England. Brown’s Simmons Center, NAISI, and the Tomaquag Museum led courses on the 13th Amendment and The War for the Dawnland, with guest speakers and space to reflect on these important stories.

Historian Mack Scott, Visiting Assistant Professor of Slavery and Justice at the Simmons Center, describes himself as an “actualist.” His varied research interests share a common thread—mending ruptures in the fabric of dominant historical narratives through stories that have been neglected or erased. His goal is a more complete history—one that strives to document what actually happened.

Newport, Rhode Island, is often celebrated for its Gilded Age mansions and seaside charm, but the city also has a rich and enduring Black history. The latest season of HBO’s The Gilded Age highlights Newport’s thriving 19th-century Black community, exploring the lives of property owners, entrepreneurs, and socially prominent families whose stories have often been overlooked. Historians and consultants for the show draw on primary sources to illuminate how Black Newporters shaped the city’s social, cultural, and economic life during this transformative period.

Taneisha Wilson reflects on the passing of Professor Lundy Braun

In May 2024, a research update on Archives of Slavery and Justice shared new findings on the free and enslaved laborers who built Brown University. Drawing on the Brown Family Business Records, the project reexamines archival materials to uncover names, relationships, and stories that reshape our understanding of the university’s early history.

For Patricia Santos, the Reimagining New England Histories Professional Learning Opportunity was more than professional development, it was a call to teach for justice. Through collaboration with the Curriculum Committee, she helped refine lessons that center Indigenous histories and contributions, ensuring that truthful, inclusive narratives reach classrooms year-round.

In 2024, the Human Trafficking Research Cluster marked major milestones: launching a new book on sex worker health in Rhode Island, continuing collaborative research with Red Canary Song, and preparing to debut “Liberation Atlas,” a digital map of policing violence against Asian massage workers in NYC.

Over the past year, the Race, Slavery, Colonialism and Capitalism Research Cluster deepened its impact through a spring workshop, student-led panels, and original research projects. Graduate and undergraduate fellows collaborated with leading scholars to examine racial capitalism and imperialism, while building community across disciplines and institutions.

As part of the 2023 Black Alumni Reunion, former Ruth J. Simmons Center fellows reflected on their journeys as leaders in curation, preservation, and interpretation. Sharing insights from their work in museums and cultural institutions, they discussed how the Center’s community and vision continue to shape public humanities and the pursuit of restorative justice.

At a conference honoring George Lamming, Professor Brian Meeks examined Lamming’s political vision for a unified Caribbean. Through his edited volume "On the Canvas of this World," Lamming brought together leading regional thinkers to imagine an expansive, inclusive anti-colonial future—one that continues to illuminate paths forward amid today’s global challenges.

During her fellowship with the Reimagining New England Histories project, Cheryll Toney Holley worked to amplify Black and Indigenous voices and challenge traditional narratives of the region’s past. Serving on exhibition, K–12 curriculum, and publication committees, she helped develop community-centered educational materials and public history projects.