|
Memorial Plaque for African-American Slaves in Deerfield
Account Book of Elijah Williams, Ledger B, Vol. 3
"Bars Fight"
|
Summary and Objective
Using primary and secondary sources students will understand that although there is little evidence in local histories of Western Massachusetts large numbers of enslaved people lived and worked in Deerfield, Massachusetts in the 18th Century.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Introduction: As an introduction to the lesson "Slavery in Western Massachusetts" the teacher will play the traditional African music selection by Angelique Kidjo "Zelie". Discussion questions: What do the opening lyrics, "You can take away our people...but you cannot take away our voice" mean? Where do you think this song originated? How does this song make you feel?
Step 2.
The teacher will read and discuss paragraphs 1-4 from the article "Slavery in the North" focusing on the first offical legal definition of chattel slavery, "Body of Liberties", in the British North American colonies in Massachusetts in 1641. How did British North Americans rationalize their need for slaves? Were options other than slavery available to the colonists? How did the 1641 document "Body of Liberties change the status of slaves in the colonies?
Step 3.
The teacher will handout the reading: Lesson 6, "African American Presence in Deerfield, Massachusetts" from the American Centuries website. After the reading is completed students will discuss the following questions: How were African slaves perceived by Deerfield residents and their slave owners? What is meant by "Divine dispensation?". Students will discuss the differences between how black slaves lived and worked in Deerfield and those that were sold into slavery in the southern United States.
Step 4.
Students will view, on-line, the interactive map of Deerfield, Massachusetts in the mid-1700's "Map to African American Historic Sites, Enslaved Africans living in Deerfield" from the American Centuries website. Students will count the number of African American slaves identified on the street and record what we know about them. Students will look at "Bars Fight" and the "Account Book of Elijah Williams" discovering what these primary sources reveal about Lucy Terry and Abijah Prince.
Step 5.
Students will view the "African American Memorial Plaque" designed by Shamek Weddle. Students will answer and discuss the following questions: Explain what the plaques designer Shamek Weddle meant by the "call". Explain what the carvings on the plaque symbolize. Define the term "Diaspora".
Step 6.
Students will complete a 1 page essay describing what they learned about slavery in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
|
