Lunch and Learn – The Precious Birthright: Black Leaders and the Fight to Vote in Antebellum Rhode Island

Join us for a virtual presentation as historian CJ Martin discusses his new book, The Precious Birthright: Black Leaders and the Fight to Vote in Antebellum Rhode Island, published by the University of Massachusetts Press.

In 1842, Black Rhode Islanders secured a stunning victory rarely seen in antebellum America – they won the right to vote. Amid heightened public discourse around shifting ideas of race, citizenship, and political rights, they methodically deconstructed the arguments against their enfranchisement and chose the perfect moments in which to act forcefully. At the head of this movement was a cohort of prominent business and community members that formed an early example of a Black leadership class in the US, including voting rights activist Alfred Niger, who was born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

CJ Martin argues that Black leaders employed a unique combination of agitation and accommodation to ensure the success of this movement. By focusing on Black leadership, Martin relates this history through the people who lived it, and by investigating their tactics, he deepens the story of how race played a crucial role in American citizenship. The Precious Birthright provides new insight into the larger story of Black freedom. Martin will also put this win into perspective with what was happening in Connecticut at this time.

This virtual event is free and open to the public. Register below to get the Zoom link.

About the Speaker: CJ Martin is a historian who focuses on Black history, with a focus on the abolitionist movement and the politics of anti-slavery. He received his PhD at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a faculty member at the College of the Holy Cross. His work has appeared in journals such as Rhode Island History and Commonplace.

To purchase a copy of CJ Martin’s book, The Precious Birthright: Black Leaders and the fight to vote in Antebellum Rhode Island, please click here. Use code UMASS20 for 20% off.