[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> CHILDREN ARE RESILIENT, BUT IT IS HARD BECAUSE YOU EXPECT YOUR PARENTS TO BE THE ONE TO FIX THINGS, AND WE SEE PARENTS AND ALL TYPES OF SITUATIONS STRUGGLING.

MICHELLE: THE COVID CRISIS HAS TAKEN SOCIAL ISOLATION TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, HURTING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

>> FOR A SURVIVOR OF THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE, THIS WOULD NOW BE A CRISIS LAID ON TOP OF A CRISIS.

>> THERE ARE FEW MORE FAMOUS FAMILIES IN AMERICA THAN RHODE ISLAND'S THE BROWN FAMILY.

JOHN BROWN AND HIS BROTHERS ARE BEST KNOWN AS THE FOUNDERS OF BROWN UNIVERSITY, THEY DO NOT AGREE WHEN IT CAME TO SLAVES AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

THEIR DIFFERENCES PLAYED OUT DURING THEIR LIFETIME AND HAS RESURFACED TODAY.

>> WELL, THE BROWN'S I REALLY A GOOD MICROCOSM OF THE FIGHT OVER SLAVERY THAT ULTIMATELY RIPPED ALWAYS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THIS VIRTUAL EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

-- I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

MANY OF US HAVE BEEN SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME BECAUSE OF COVID-19, BUT IT IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR EVERYONE.

FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT MAY BE A DANGEROUS PLACE.

IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, BUT THEY ARE TROUBLING TRENDS.

ADVOCATES FOR THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE SEEN THE BIG SPIKE ON CALLS TO THEIR HOTLINE.

MEANWHILE, THOSE WHO WORK IN CHILD WELFARE REPORT SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER CALLS TO THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT HOTLINE.

THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THERE IS LESS CHILD ABUSE -- THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THERE IS LESS CHILD ABUSE.

>> A LOT OF OUR REPORTS HISTORICALLY HAVE COME FROM THE ACTUAL SCHOOLS.

MICHELLE: TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN TRAINED TO LOOK FOR SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

ANYONE WHO SUSPECTS IT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO REPORT IT WITHIN 24 HOURS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF ARE NOT ACTUALLY SEEING CHILDREN?

>> I HAVE DECIDED WE NEED TO CONTINUE DISTANCE-LEARNING, K-12 AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR THE SCHOOL YEARS.

MICHELLE: THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, KNOWN AS DCYF, SAYS ON THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, CHILD WELFARE WORKERS QUICKLY BECAME CONCERNED THERE WOULD BE FEWER EYES AND EARS ON CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE HOME.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL, PARENTS COULD BE OUT OF WORK, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, HAVING TO BE AT HOME RATHER THAN GO ANYWHERE, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STRESS IS IN THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS OUR CONCERN.

KIDS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS.

MICHELLE: DURING THE FIRST FULL MONTH OF REMOTE LEARNING LAST APRIL, CALLS TO THE STATE'S CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE PLUMMETED BY 45% COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME THE YEAR BEFORE.

>> WHETHER OR NOT KIDS WERE BEING ABUSED, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, AND THAT'S A CONCERN.

BUT ONE OF THE REAL ISSUES HERE IS ANXIETY AND A BEVEL OF STRESS FAMILIES ARE UNDER.

MICHELLE: WHAT WE DO KNOW IS FROM MARCH 2020 UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE WAS A 43% DROP IN CALLS TO THE HOTLINE COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019.

>> I WAS SOMEWHAT MORE CONCERNED DURING LOCKDOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT GETTING OUT AT ALL.

MICHELLE: STEPHANIE TERRY IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DCYF.

>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THIS DROP IN CALLS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER CHILDREN BEING HARMED.

>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE EITHER WAY RIGHT NOW.

>> WHEN SCHOOLS IN SEPTEMBER, -- WHEN SCHOOLS DID REOPEN IN SEPTEMBER, WE DID NOT SEE A HUGE SPIKE IN REPORTS ON THE HOTLINE.

THEY DID INCREASE BUT NOWHERE NEAR TO THE EXTENT WE HAD FEARED THEY WOULD WHEN THE CHILDREN RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM.

MICHELLE: TERRY SAYS STRATEGIESDCYF IMPLEMENTED TO -- STRATEGIES DCYF IMPLEMENTED MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE LOWER CALL VOLUME.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRUANCY OFFICERS FIGURED OUT WAYS IN IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND WAYS TO TALK TO FAMILIES SO IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE FOLKS ARE BEING ACCUSED OF ANYTHING OR BEING POLICED IN ANYTHING.

MICHELLE: IN SEPTEMBER, DCYF LAUNCHED A SCREENING AND RESPONSE UNIT.

THE IDEA IS FAMILIES STRUGGLING CAN VOLUNTARILY CALL AND ASK FOR HELP.

SINCE IT STARTED, DCYF SAYS IT HAS CONNECTED MORE THAN 230 FAMILIES WITH SUPPORT SERVICES.

>> THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE SILVER LININGS FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT IT IS CREATING THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES CAN ACCESS SUPPORT WHEN THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO ACCESS THE SUPPORT AND NOT WAIT UNTIL IT REACHES THE CRITICAL STAGE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE INVESTIGATION.

MICHELLE: AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, WHAT REMAINS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

>> I THINK THE FEAR, THE ISOLATION, GETTING BACK TO NORMALCY.

I THINK THIS WAS TRAUMATIC FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES.

RECOGNIZING THAT THE WAY THAT WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO DO THINGS MAY NOT BE THE WAY WE DO THINGS.

WE MAY BE WEARING MASKS FOR A LONG TIME AND NOT SEEING EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.

MICHELLE: WHILE DCYF SAYS IT IS GETTING FEWER CALLS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE, OTHER EVIDENCE SUGGESTS SITUATIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ARE NOT CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.

TONYA HARRIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THE STRESSORS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH COULD BE LOSS OF JOBS, LOSS OF INCOME, IS NEVER A REASON TO COMMIT VIOLENCE AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON.

MICHELLE: THE COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CALLS TO THE STATEWIDE HELPLINE AND AGENCY HOTLINE SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

LAST JULY, CALLS WERE UP BY MORE THAN 90% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS JULY.

>> WE MADE SURE DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WE LET VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE AND OPEN.

THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS OUR SHELTERS WERE NOT GOING TO CLOSE.

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REMAIN OPEN FOR A VICTIM FLEEING A VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP.

MICHELLE: HAVING A SAFE PLACE TO GO REMAINS THE BIGGEST NEED FOR SURVIVORS.

SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN PEOPLE REQUESTING EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOUSING.

THE COALITION RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE SHELTER CAPACITY, BUT MORE BEDS ARE NEEDED.

>> HAVING SHELTER IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT TOOL AND RESOURCE FOR VICTIMS.

HOWEVER, YOU ALSO HAVE TO TRANSITION OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO A SAFE HOME.

WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY.

MICHELLE: WHEN THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EMERGENCY BEDS, VICTIMS MAY END UP BEING TURNED AWAY.

>> IT IS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING FOR THE VICTIM AND ADVOCATE WHEN THEY ARE FACED WITH THAT SITUATION.

WE ENCOURAGE EACH VICTIM TO CONTINUE TO CALL AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ADVOCATE TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE.

MICHELLE: EVEN FOR SURVIVORS WHO HAVE FOUND A SAFE SPACE AND ARE NO LONGER IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, THE PANDEMIC IS TAKING ITS TOLL.

>> I HAD TO LAY DOWN BECAUSE I AM FEELING SUPER ANXIOUS TODAY.

MICHELLE: THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR SHARED HOW COVID-19 HAS TRIGGERED HER PTSD.

>> WHEN I WAS BEING ABUSED, WHEN I WAS IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, I WAS VERY ISOLATED.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID WITHIN WEEKS OF LIVING WITH HIM.

I WAS EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ISOLATION.

I STILL AM.

I FEEL THAT WAY TODAY.

MICHELLE: ANOTHER SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REFLECTED ON THE CHALLENGES SHE ONCE FACED WITH HER ABUSER.

>> WITH MY LACK OF TECHNOLOGY, I DID NOT HAVE A COMPUTER THEN.

I WAS IN AN ISOLATED AREA THAT I CANNOT GET WI-FI.

IF WE PUT OURSELVES IN THOSE SHOES, VICTIMS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE STILL BEING ABUSED, EVEN DURING THIS PANDEMIC, IT IS THE WORST SITUATION POSSIBLE.

MICHELLE: WHEN PEOPLE WERE FIRST TOLD TO STAY HOME DURING THE% EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, CONCERNS SET IN ABOUT HOW ABUSERS WOULD USE COVID-19 TO FURTHER CONTROL VICTIMS.

>> DOMESTIC ABUSE IS ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL.

THERE IS THE PHYSICAL ABUSE, AND THERE IS ALSO EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL ABUSE.

THE WAY ABUSERS USE THE PANDEMIC TO FURTHER CONTROL THEIR VICTIM IS TO INTIMIDATE THEM, AND, SO, BECAUSE OF SHELTER-IN-PLACE, THEY MAY SAY TO THE VICTIM, WELL, YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU MAY GET SICK OR INFECTED FAMILY.

-- IN FACT THE FAMILY.

THEY MAY CONTINUE TO CUT OFF TIES MORE SO NOW WITH THE VICTIM'S SUPPORT, WHICH COULD BE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND.

MICHELLE: FOR THOSE LIVING IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, WORKING OUTSIDE THE HOME IS OFTEN A REPRIEVE.

AS VICTIMS ARE STUCK AT HOME WITH THEIR ABUSERS, THE COALITION HAS HAD TO GET CREATIVE.

>> WE EXPANDED OUR ONLINE CHAT SERVICE SO THAT A VICTIM COULD CHAT WITH AN EXPERIENCED ADVOCATE ONLINE IMMEDIATELY.

THERE IS ALSO A TEXTING FOR 911 OPTION.

IF THE VICTIM PROVIDES THEIR LOCATION, THE FIRST RESPONDER CAN GET TO THEM RIGHT AWAY.

MICHELLE: AS SOCIAL ISOLATION REMAINS THE NORM FOR NOW, SURVIVORS SAY IT IS CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE CHECK IN ON THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> THEY PROBABLY DON'T THINK THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE, OR CALL ANYONE.

BEING HOME WITH NO FAITH.

MICHELLE: TONYA HARRIS SAYS IT CAN TAKE UP TO SEVEN ATTEMPTS FOR A VICTIM TO LEAVE AND ABUSER.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, YOU CAN FIND LINKS ON YOUR WEBSITE, RIPBS.ORG.

SINCE 1976, THE UNITED STATES HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

THROUGH THE MONTH, RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY WILL AIR SEVERAL STORIES TO CELEBRATE SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

AFTER A SHORT BREAK, BILL BARTHOLOMEW WILL START US OFF WITH A REPORT ON RHODE ISLAND'S LONG ISLAND OF HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO PERSEVERED .

♪ MICHELLE: WELCOME BACK TO THE BROADCAST.

WHEN YOU THINK OF RHODE ISLAND HISTORY, ROGER WILLIAMS AND HIS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AND SEEMINGLY ELATION'S WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, MAY COME TO MIND.

YOU MAY ALSO THINK ABOUT THE BURNING LEADING UP TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND SAMUEL SLATER'S SPEARHEADING OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

AS BILL BARTHOLOMEW REPORTS, RHODE ISLAND' ORIGIN AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINES IS MORE EXPLICITLY TIED TO SLAVERY THA SOME WOULDN SOME WOULD LIKE TO ADMIT.

BILL: WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF RHODE ISLAND, DO THEY THINK OF SLAVERY QUESTION MARK >> NO, THEY -- SLAVERY?

>> NO, THEY THINK OF US AS PART OF ABOLITIONISTS.

BLL: BUT MIKE STANTON FOUND THAT SCENARIO TO BE MOSTLY FALSE.

HE MADE THE DISCOVERY BY ACCIDENT WHILE DOING RESEARCH FOR A BOOK ON THE LATE MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE AT THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

>> I CAME ACROSS A NARRATIVE ABOUT SLAVES THAT LIVED IN SOUTH COUNTY, RHODE ISLAND.

THERE IS THIS WHOLE ELABORATE PLANTATION SYSTEM, AND THERE WERE ENSLAVED AFRICANS WHO WORKED IN THE FIELDS.

THEY HAD THE SAME KIND OF SET UP ON A SMALLER SCALE THAN THE DEEP SOUTH.

BILL: THROUGH THE 17TH CENTURY, THE SETUP OF LEADING SLAVE LABOR HELP TO PLANTERS EXTREMELY WEALTHY.

>> EVEN IN NEWPORT, MIDDLETOWN, THEY HAD SMALLER, MORE TRADITIONAL TYPE FARMS AND THEY HAD ENSLAVED AFRICANS WORKING ON THEM.

YOU KNOW, PRESSING APPLES INTO CIDER, HELPING THE HARVEST TO CROPS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME, BACK THEN, A LOT OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS WOULD BE FOUND DEAD BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THEY WOULD ALL HAVE SCARS ON THEM MARKING THEIR BEATINGS BY THEIR MASTERS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 930 SLAVE BARGES THAT CAME FROM RHODE ISLAND.

OUT OF THOSE, 600 COME FROM NEWPORT.

THIS WAS A WELL-INTEGRATED, COMPLICIT SYSTEM THAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATED IN, AND EVERYONE BENEFITED FROM.

BILL: BY THE 18TH CENTURY, OWNING SLAVES WITHIN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND BEGAN TO END, BUT THAT DID NOT END THEIR BROADER CONNECTION TO THE SLAVE TRADE, WHICH WAS STILL RAGING IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES.

FOR EXAMPLE, RHODE ISLAND HAD MORE THAN 80 TEXTILE MILLS ACROSS THE STATE THAT EXCLUSIVELY MANUFACTURED AND SOLD CLOTHING TO BE WORN BY SLAVES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

RHODE ISLAND WAS HOME TO THE COUNTRY'S TOP 10 SLAVE TRADERS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH PROMINENT FAMILIES, SUCH AS THE BROWN'S AND THE WOLF -- DEWOLF 'S.

THEY BROUGHT SOME 11,000 AFRICAN SLAVES ACROSS THE NOTORIOUS MIDDLE PASSAGE, EARNING THE FAMILY THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF AMERICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL SLAVE TRADERS AND AMONG THE RICHEST FAMILIES IN THE COUNTRY.

JOHN BROWN AND HIS BROTHERS WERE NOT ONLY THE FOUNDERS OF BROWN UNIVERSITY, THEY WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST SLAVE TRADERS IN THE STATE.

>> WELL, THE BROWN'S ARE A GOOD MICROCOSM ON THE FIGHT OVER SLAVERY THAT ULTIMATELY RIPPED THIS COUNTRY APART AND WAS ALWAYS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.

THE BROWN FAMILY -- AND THERE WERE OTHER BROTHERS, AS WELL.

THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL MERCHANTS, THEY FINANCED SLAVE WAGES, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE RUM AND MOLASSES TRADE.

YOU HAD THESE BROTHERS WHO CAME UP INTO THIS FAMILY OF BUSINESS.

JOHN BROWN BECAME ONE OF THE LEADING SLAVE TRADERS.

WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD INVEST IN THE SLAVE SHIPS.

A LOT OF MERCHANTS WOULD DO THAT.

BILL: RUM AND MOLASSES WERE PART OF THE TRIANGLE TRADE, WHICH BEGAN WITH GOODS BEING SHIPPED FROM EUROPEAN PORTS TO AFRICA.

THEY WERE THEN BARTERED FOR CAPTURED SLAVES, WHO IN TURN WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE WEST INDIES AND AMERICAN COLONIES.

NEWPORT AND BRISTOL'S DEEPWATER PORTS WERE IDEAL FOR THE LARGE SHIPS THAT CARRIED THE SO-CALLED CARGO.

OVER 100,000 AFRICAN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN ABOARD AT LEAST 900 DOCUMENTED JOURNEYS.

THE BROWN FAMILY'S SLAVE TRADING BUSINESS WITH PIT BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER.

>> MOSES WAS ALSO PART OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS, AND THEN HIS WIFE DIED.

HE HAD A RECKONING WITH GOD, AND HE BECAME A QUAKER.

QUAKERS, AGAIN, PART OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, WERE AGAINST SLAVERY.

MOSES, ANOTHER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, HE TOOK SOME OF HIS FAMILY MONEY AND GOT OUT OF THE SLAVE TRADE AND INVESTED IN SOME OF THE FIRST TEXTILE MILLS, WHICH WOULD BE ANOTHER TRANSFORM AND EXPERIENCE.

HE ALSO WOUND UP TAKING HIS BROTHER TO COURT BECAUSE RHODE ISLAND DID ULTIMATELY OUTLAW THE SLAVE TRADE.

THERE WAS A REAL SENTIMENT TO FREE THE ENSLAVED AFRICANS WHO WERE HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, THE PLANTERS DOWN IN THEIR COUNTIES PETERED OUT BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS AND ABOLITION SENTIMENT.

AFTER IT HAD BEEN OUTLAWED, JOHN BROWN WAS AN OUTLAW AND KEPT INVESTING IN SLAVE SHIPS.

MOSES EVENTUALLY TOOK HIM TO COURT.

JOHN HAD A LOT OF PULL.

HE WAS A CONGRESSMAN, AS WELL, FROM RHODE ISLAND.

THEY HAD A FALLING OUT OVER IT.

OF COURSE, THE FAMILY GAVE BROWN UNIVERSITY ITS NAME.

BILL: EVENTUALLY, RHODE ISLAND'S INDIRECT TIES TO SLAVERY ENDED.

HOWEVER, A NEWPORT BASED HISTORIAN AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 1696 HERITAGE GROUP, SAYS THAT THE STORY TODAY SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT AND SOLD SLAVES.

>> IT IS THE AFRICAN MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO SURVIVED IT, THAT PERSEVERED DESPITE JOHN BROWN.

BILL: STOKES TELLS THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO OVERCAME SLAVERY AND BEGAN TO BUILD THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> THERE WERE DOZENS OF THESE FREE AFRICAN ENCLAVES ALL ACROSS THE NORTH INTO NEW ENGLAND.

BILL: TWO OF THOSE AREAS IN RHODE ISLAND WERE KNOWN AS HEART'S GRAB A --H HART'S GRAVEL AND SNOW TOWN.

AS THEY ACHIEVED FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, THEY ALSO CAME COMPETITION TO A NEW WAVE OF WHITE IMMIGRANTS.

IN OCTOBER 1824, A MOB OF WHITES DESTROYED THE HOMES OF APPROXIMATELY 20 BLACK FAMILIES.

IN 1831, A SIMILAR RIOT OCCURRED IN SNOW TOWN.

>> THE SERIES OF RIOTS WE SAW WERE GOING ON ACROSS THE ANTEBELLUM AMERICAN NORTH AT THAT TIME.

IT CULMINATED BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.

BILL: GETTING THE STORY OF THE TOWNS OUT HAS BEEN A MISSION OF STOKES.

>> WHEN YOUNG KIDS OF COLOR HEAR THE STORIES, READ THE DOCUMENTS, TOUCH PHYSICAL ARTIFACTS CONNECTED TO THESE POWERFUL BLACK PEOPLE, THEY GET ENGAGED AND EXCITED.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEIZE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING THAT IS DUE THEM IN THIS COUNTRY IN RHODE ISLAND.

IT IS LESS ABOUT RACISM AND DISCIMINATION AND MORE ABOUT GAINING POWER.

THAT IS WHAT HISTORY CAN DO.

BILL: WHEN WE STARTED THE INTERVIEW, TALKING ABOUT HOW SURPRISING IT WAS TO LEARN ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S HERITAGE WITH SLAVERY, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

I SAW SOMETHING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH WHICH WAS EIGHT ROADS, --WORDS AND THAT WAS IT.

I THINK TO TEACH HISTORY RIGHT AROUND US, YOU KNOW, THAT HELPS SHAPE THE STATE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A FEW HUNDRED YEARS AGO, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR SKILL -- FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN TO KNOW.

>> THEIR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN ESPOUSING BLACK CIVIL-RIGHTS IN THE EARLY AND LATE 18TH-CENTURY -- 19 CENTURY.

TO ME, HISTORY IS POWER.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, THE PROVIDENCE MAYOR ANNOUNCED A MULTIPHASE TRUTH TELLING RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS PROJECT.

THE FIRST PHASE INCLUDES AN IN-DEPTH HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIFIC INJUSTICES THAT BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE FACED.

KEITH STOKES IS SPEARHEADING THE PROJECT, WHICH THE MAYOR BELIEVES CAN LEAD THE NATION IN ADDRESSING THE KEY ISSUES.

FINALLY TONIGHT, GUEST COMMENTATOR SCOTT MACKAY EXPLORES RHODE ISLAND'S DECADES OF SLAVERY AND THE NEED TO LOOK AT HISTORY THROUGH A TRUTHFUL LENS.

SCOTT: IT IS A RHODE ISLAND ADAGE THAT ONLY THE MOST PEDIGREED FAMILIES IN OUR STATE CAN TRACE THEIR ANCESTRY BACK TO A ROADRUNNER, SLADE TRAVER OR CHILD FACTORY EMPLOYER.

HISTORY SHOWS US THAT WEALTH MASKS A GREAT CRIME.

THAT IS TRUE OF RHODE ISLAND'S SLAVING PAST, A LEGACY THAT WAFTS FROM THE HARBORS OF PROVIDENCE, BRISTOL AND NEWPORT.

SLAVE TRADING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF COLONIES.

AS DOES ANOTHER HISTORY, FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND EXPRESSION, TOLERANCE OF OTHERS.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE MUSLIMS, JEWS, AND THOSE OF NO FAITH WERE CONSIDERED EQUAL.

JEWS HAD FULL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS MORE THAN A CENTURY BEFORE THIS WAS CHANGED IN ENGLAND.

ALL THIS WAS BURIED IN THE STATE'S CONSCIOUSNESS.

EVERY SCHOOL CHILD LEARNED OF ROGER WILLIAMS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, WITH THE DARK UNDERBELLY OF THE STATE WAS SWEPT INTO AN FORGOTTEN -- A FORGOTTEN CLOSET.

IT HAS ONLY RECENTLY COME FORWARD DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF NEW GENERATIONS OF CLEAR EYED HISTORIANS.

RHODE ISLAND IS A BIT LIKE WILLIAM FAULKNER, WHO SAID FAMOUSLY THAT THE PASTIS NEVER DEAD, IT IS NOT EVEN PAST.

NEW ENGLANDERS HAVE LONG TAKEN PRIDE FOR BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CIVIL WAR.

NO ONE IS CLAMORING FOR REMOVAL OF OUR MONUMENTS TO THAT ERA.

THOSE GRANITE STATUES, CARVED WITH DEAD SOLDIERS, THAT GUARD OUR TOWN GREENS.

WE IN THE NORTH BASQUE ON OUR SUPPORT FOR THE 1960 CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT.

MOST OF THE SUPPORTED BARACK OBAMA'S ELECTION.

TOO MANY OF US BELIEVE THERE IS AN EQUITY IN OUR REGION, BUT -- INEQUITY IN OUR REGION, BUT OUR CURRENT MOMENT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HISTORY THROUGH AN HONEST LENS.

THIS COMES AFTER OUR RECENT TROUBLES, THE EMANUEL CHURCH MASSACRE, THE BRUTAL DEATHS OF GORGE FLOYD AND TO MANY OTHERS AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.

BLACK HAVE LONG -- BLACK AMERICANS HAVE LONG BEEN HIT BY CRISIS.

COVID-19 EXPOSE THESE FAULT LINES IN HIGHER RATES OF INFECTION, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

BLACKS ALSO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF INFANT MORTALITY AND MORE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS THAN WHITES.

BLACK LIFE EXPECTANCY IS FOUR YEARS LOWER THAN WHITES.

IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR THIS RECKONING.

A GREAT DEMOCRACY DOES NOT DENY ITS PAST.

IT FACES UP TO IT AND FIXES IT.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO SCOTT MACKAY.

I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FROM ALL OF US AT PBS RHODE ISLAND -- RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, THANKS FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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