North of the Grid: The Black Experience of 17th -19th Century Rural New York City

Author

Stephanie E. Barnes, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2022

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

Matthew Reilly

Subject Categories

African American Studies | Archaeological Anthropology | Digital Humanities | Museum Studies | Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology | Public History | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social Justice | United States History

Keywords

historical archaeology, new york city history, historic sites, museums, whiteness, racial justice

Abstract

In the United States, transatlantic slavery was a racial project and template for race-making which created a country that relied on institutions that were organized and performed through social stratification. Today, the nation still operates on systemically racist institutions that have benefited whites while disadvantaging ‘others.’ The narratives presented in American history are rooted in whiteness and benefit the white community while marginalizing nonwhites. Over two hundred years of slavery history in this country has been purposely manipulated and left out. My research focuses on using an historical archaeological framework to research and share the lives of free and enslaved Africans in 17^th – 19^th century Upper Manhattan. By revisiting documents and materials in the 21^st century, I can apply Black, Indigenous, and feminist lenses with a critical pedagogical approach to counteract intentional misinterpretations of the past. My capstone project is a digital storytelling of the lived experiences of free and enslaved Africans in Upper Manhattan. I challenge cultural institutions to learn and develop best practices for implementing enslaved narratives at their sites.

Recommended Citation

Barnes, Stephanie E., "North of the Grid: The Black Experience of 17th -19th Century Rural New York City" (2022). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/4891