From about 1750 to 1850, long before they won the right to vote under the U.S. Constitution, African Americans living in such New England communities as New Haven, Boston, Newport and Portsmouth held their own elections to choose regional black kings, governors or sheriffs. The cultural elements that gave rise to Black Election or Negro Election Day, as it was known, as well as the ways the African American communities viewed this tradition and the reasons the holiday was lost to history will be among the topics examined in "Recovering Traditions: Black Kings and Governors in Connecticut's Cultural Life," a symposium and "cultural festival" being held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Peabody Museum of Natural History. The event is cosponsored by the Connecticut Afro-American Historical Society. Originally, Black Election Day coincided with colonial elections. African Americans were released from work for the voting and victory celebrations, which included food, singing, dancing and games. Those elected held lifelong ceremonial titles and exercised some judicial power as well.
"Recovering Traditions" will feature a panel discussion at 1:30 p.m. looking at the political organizing that occurred in the diverse African-American communities of the Colonial and Early American periods, as well as the lessons that may be applicable to today's society. The panelists will include State Senator Toni Harp; Jeremy Brecker, a local historian; Steve Ray, a graduate student in history who served as a curator for the Black Hartford project; and Maisa Tisdale, an expert in the role of African Americans in Connecticut's nautical history. In addition, "Borderline," a 1928 experimental film starring Paul Robeson, will be shown twice during the day: at noon and again at 4 p.m. Both the screenings and the symposium are open to the public and are free with museum admission.
The Peabody Museum of Natural History is located at 170 Whitney Ave. It is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, and $3 for children ages 3-15 and senior citizens over age 65. For further information, call the InfoTape at 432-5050.