ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT.

>> WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE DYING HAVING BABIES.

>> STATISTICS TELL A FRIGHTENING STORY.

BLACK WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO DIE DURING CHILDBIRTH THAN WHITE WOMEN.

>> THERE IS THE COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT COMES UP THAT BLACK PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THE SAME TYPES OF PAIN AS WHITE FOLKS, WHICH IS ABSURD AND NOT TRUE.

>> WHEN WHITE LIVES ARE BEING LOST, PEOPLE JUMP INTO ACTION.

WHEN BLACK LIVES ARE BEING LOST, IT IS, WELL, ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

>> STEP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE.

FACE AWAY FROM ME.

STEP OUT AND FACE AWAY.

>> PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME, I CAN'T BREATHE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

MICHELLE: I WANT TO START BY IT IS NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

PAMELA IS A NATIVE RHODE ISLANDER AND MANY OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HER FROM LOCAL TELEVISION.

PAMELA: THANK YOU.

IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THE GREAT STORIES AHEAD.

MICHELLE: WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH STARTLING FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND PREGNANCY.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, SOME 700 WOMEN DIE EVERY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES FROM COMPLICATIONS DURING PREGNANCY.

AND WHEN THE WOMEN ARE BLACK, THEY ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM PREGNANCY RELATED ISSUES THAN WHITE WOMEN.

THE SITUATION IN RHODE ISLAND IS ALSO GRIM.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FINDS BLACK WOMEN ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO FACE COMPLICATIONS DURING BIRTH THAN WHITE WOMEN.

THEIR INFANTS ARE ALSO AT GREATER RISK.

A GROWING CONTINGENT OF LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN RHODE ISLAND ARE LOOKING TO PROFESSIONALS WHO OFFER SUPPORT TO PREGNANT WOMEN BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER LABOR IN THE HOPES THEY CAN HELP CLOSE THE GAP.

>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CARED FOR, GROWING LIFE INSIDE OF ME AND BRINGING LIFE INTO THIS EARTH.

I WANTED TO BE TREATED WITH CARE.

MICHELLE: CARMEN P PENNELL HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MOM.

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT, SHE DECIDED TO GIVE BIRTH AT HOME.

SHE SAYS SHE WAS SCARED TO HAVE HER BABY GIRL AT A HOSPITAL.

>> I DID NOT HAVE FAITH IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT I WOULD RECEIVE THAT KIND OF CARE THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.

>> I LOVE YOU.

PAMELA: WHILE PIERRE WAS PREGNANT, SHE HIRED A WOMAN WHO HELPED HER WORK THROUGH HER ANXIETY DURING PREGNANCY AND LABOR.

>> DURING THE ACTUAL BIRTH, THE COMFORT SHE PROVIDED THE MOMENT SHE WALKED INTO THE HOME ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TIME THE BABY ARRIVED, I -- IT WAS AMAZING.

>>>> IT IS EMOTIONAL WORK.

IT IS A VULNERABLE TIME IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT EVERY FAMILY I COME TO.

>> FELICIA LOVE WAS THE WOMAN SHE HIRED.

SHE IS A DOULA, AND COPRESIDENT OF DOULAS OF RHODE ISLAND THAT KNOWS WELL PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OF HER PROFESSON.

>> A DOULA IS A NONMEDICAL SUPPORT PERSON.

THEY ARE NOT A NURSE, THEY ARE A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL THAT WILL SERVE A BROODING PERSON THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY, LABOR, POSTPARTUM.

WHAT THEY DO IS GIVE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, HELP PROVIDE EVIDENCE, HELP WORK THROUGH FEARS.

>> FELICIA LOVE WAS INSPIRED TO BECOME A DOULA AFTER HAVING HER FIRST CHILD AT 17 YEARS OLD.

AT THE TIME, SHE WAS IN FOSTER CARE.

>> I WENT TO ALL OF MY APPOINTMENTS BY MYSELF.

WHEN I HAD QUESTIONS COME I DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO TURN.

WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR ME TO GO INTO LABOR, I HAD TO HAVE MY LABOR INDUCED.

IT WAS TRAUMATIC.

I WENT THROUGH AN EMERGENCY SURGERY.

I HAD TO LEAVE MY SON IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WEEK LONG NICU STAY.

>> SHE SAYS THAT AFFECTED HER SELF-ESTEEM AS A NEW MOM.

WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN, SHE KNEW SHE WANTED TO HAVE A DOULA BUT COULD NOT AFFORD ONE.

THEN SHE MET A DOULA WHO AGREED TO WORK FOR FREE.

>> IT HELPS ME CLEAR ANY FEARS I HAD FROM THE LAST PREGNANCY.

WHEN I WENT INTO LABOR, SHE WAS THERE AND I FELT CONFIDENT.

I WAS ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH TO THIS BEAUTIFUL NINE POINT FIVE POUND BABY WITH NO EPIDURAL AND I WAS SO PROUD.

I FELT SO FULFILLED AND SO HAPPY.

I KNEW I WANTED TO GIVE THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AND HER FIVE YEARS WORKING AS A DOULA, LOVE HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT NOT ALL EXPECTANT MOTHERS ARE TREATED THE SAME.

>> OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE'S PAIN IS NOT RECOGNIZED.

THERE IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT BLACK PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THE SAME TYPE OF PAIN AS WHITE FOLKS, WHICH IS ABSURD, BUT WE SEE THAT OFTEN.

PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING LISTENED TO.

>> RESEARCH SEWS THAT HISTORICALLY -- RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HISTORICALLY WOMEN'S PAIN IS IGNORED BECAUSE OF GENDER BIAS.

THE SITUATION IS WORSE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.

ACCORDING TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BLACK WOMEN ARE 42% MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A SEVERE COMPLICATION DURING DELIVERY THAN WHITE WOMEN.

>> WE KNOW THAT OVERALL, THE UNITED STATES IS FAILING HORRIBLY AT ADDRESSING MATERNAL MORTALITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY AND SPECIALIZES IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD A DOULA ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A C-SECTION, REPORT GREATER SATISFACTION WITH DELIVERY AND FEWER COMPLICATIONS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO INITIATE A -- WE KNOW THE ROLE OF DOULAS AS MEMBERS OF THE CARE TEAM FOR WOMEN ARE TREMENDOUSLY BENEFICIAL.

>> SHE SAYS MANY TIMES, BLACK WOMEN DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNNECESSARY SURGERY.

>> IF THE PROVIDER IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE LABOR IS NOT PROGRESSING, WE OFTEN SEE REDDICK LYONS NECESSARY SEE SECTIONS AS A WAY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

A DOULA CAN INTERVENE AND QUESTION WHETHER DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ON BEHALF OF THE WOMAN.

>> FOR RHODE ISLAND STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARSIA VASIL, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS PERSONAL.

HER LIFE DRASTICALLY CHANGED 25 YEARS AGO AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER TWIN BOYS.

>> FIVE DAYS AFTER THE TWINS WERE BORN, I HAD WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT TO BE A HEMORRHAGE.

ON MY BRAIN.

I REMEMBER HAVING THE MOST GIGANTIC HEADACHE THAT ANYONE COULD EVER HAVE.

IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATING THAT I REMEMBER OPENING THE FREEZER DOOR AND STICKING MY HEAD IN IT.

JUST TO RELIEVE THE PAIN.

>>>> SHE HAD A HEADACHE FOR FIVE DAYS BEFORE SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.

SHE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN HEMORRHAGE THAT COULD HAVE KILLED HER.

HER SURVIVAL PROMPTED HER TO DO RESEARCH ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH AND SHE QUICKLY FOUND HER EXPERIENCE WAS NOT AN ANOMALY.

SHE BELIEVED IF SHE HAD A DOULA, SHE WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL SOONER.

-- FIRST INTRODUCED A BILL A FEW YEARS AFTER SHE TOOK OFFICE.

THE CURRENT REGISTRATION BROOD REQUIRED THAT PROVIDERS AND MEDICAID OFFER -- AND UP TO ONE YEAR POSTPARTUM.

>> WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE DYING JUST TRYING TO HAVE BABIES.

NO ONE SHOULD BE DYING FROM BIRTHING EXPERIENCE.

>> FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL HAVE HIT ROADBLOCKS, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WHICH HAS ARGUED THE BILL WOULD LEAD TO HIGHER PREMIUMS.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALSO BE A BIG EXPENSE FOR THE STATE.

>> ANOTHER BARRIER FROM MY VANTAGE POINT IS THE STATE NOT WANTING TO PONY UP, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, $34 MILLION.

TO PUT THIS IN THE BUDGET.

>> I LIKE THE WAY THAT ONE LOOKS.

>> WHEN SHE CALLED HER INSURANCE PROVIDER TO FIND OUT IF DOULA SERVICES WERE COVERED, SHE WAS SURPRISED AT WHAT SHE HEARD.

>> THE PERSON ANSWERING THE PERFORMANCE -- ANSWERING THE PHONE SAID WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

>> ONCE EXPLAINED, SHE WAS TOLD THE EXPENSE WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED.

>> WHAT PUSHED BACK YOU HEAR ABOUT THE DOULA BILL?

>> THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS PROFIT BASED.

PROVIDERS, NURSES, THE SYSTEM OVERALL SEES DOULAS AS ANCILLARIES.

>> -- HAS BEEN A DOULA FOR SIX YEARS AND IS HELPED WITH THE BIRTHS OF 30 BABIES.

SHE HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW BLACK CLIENTS ARE HELPED DIFFERENTLY FROM WHITE CLIENTS.

>> IT IS NOT JUST BLACK WOMEN BEING TREATED LIKE TRASH, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

IT IS PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE, IT IS MICRO AGGRESSIONS, IT IS, "IS THAT THE BABIES DADDY?"

INSTEAD OF, "IS THAT HER HUSBAND?"

DRUG USE IS ASSUMED SOMETIMES.

>> WHILE WHITE CLIENTS WORRY ABOUT AROMATHERAPY, BLACK CLIENTS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SURVIVAL.

>> MY CLIENT DOES NOT WANT TO DIE.

THAT'S IT.

SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DIE.

SHE WANTS TO COME HOME WITH HER BABY.

SHE IS NOT ASKING FOR A LOT.

>>>> THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF SOCIOECONOMICS.

THE MORTALITY RATE FOR BLACK WOMEN WITH AT LEAST A COLLEGE DEGREE WAS FIVE TIMES AS HIGH AS WHITE WOMEN WITH A SIMILAR EDUCATION.

BLACK WOMEN ALSO SUFFER MORE COMPLICATIONS DURING DELIVERY.

-- SAYS HAVING A DULA PRESENT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE THOSE COMPLICATIONS, BUT SHE POINTS OUT THE RESEARCH IS ONGOING AS TO WHETHER DOULAS GO SO FAR AS TO LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES.

>> I AND OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STUDYING THAT RELATIONSHIP.

I WAS RECENTLY FUNDED BY THE NAH -- NIH TO LOOK INTO THE WORLD OF DOULAS.

>> THE CDC FINDS THAT ABOUT 60% OF PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE.

TAKE A LOOK AT CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS BEEN LAUDED AS A SUCCESS STORY.

IT SAW ITS MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE DECLINE BETWEEN 2006 AT 20TH -- 2016 WHILE THE NATIONAL RATE CONTINUED TO RISE.

A STATEWIDE COLLABORATIVE CONCLUDED THE COMMON CAUSES OF MATERNAL DEATH.

HOSPITALS ADOPT NEW PROTOCOLS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT SPOTTING AND TREATING THESE COMPLICATIONS.

PIERRE DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING DELIVERY.

STILL, SHE IS GLAD SHE SPENT ABOUT $1000 TO HAVE A DOULA.

>> LOOK HOW YOU ARE GRABBING MY THUMB.

>> SHE IS SOAKING IN THE MANY FIRSTS THAT COME WITH BEING A NEW MOM.

IT IS NOT LOST ON HER HOW MANY OTHER BLACK WOMEN WERE NOT ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT JOY.

>> I LOOK AT MY CHILD EVERY DAY AND I FEEL BLESSED THAT I GET TO BE PART OF HER LIFE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE RANGLIN-VASSELL SAYS SHE FEELS BLESSED, BUT OFTEN THINKS ABOUT THOSE WHO DID NOT.

>> THIS BILL IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

IT IS PERSONAL BECAUSE I GET TO SEE MY TWINS RIGHT NOW.

I GET TO HOLD MY GRANDSON ELIAS.

I CALL HIM MY SWEET LITTLE BROWN FACED BOY.

I KEEP THINKING OH MY GOD, I ALMOST MISSED THIS.

I ALMOST MISSED ELIAS.

THIS BILL IS FOR ALL THE MOMS.

-- MOMS WHO DID NOT GET TO SEE THEIR BABIES.

>> NOW WE TURN TO MARCH OF 2020.

WHEN COVID ARRIVES, DOCUMENTARIAN TOM FAHEY BEGAN TO RECORD THE GROWING CRISIS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE LIVES OF HIS NEIGHBORS IN SOUTH BOSTON COULD -- SOUTH BOSTON.

REMEMBER THIS YEAR TELLS THE STORY OF THE RESIDENCE OF MILTON , BUT IT IS ALSO A STORY FAMILIAR TO ALL AMERICANS.

A SHARED AND DRAMATIC MOMENT TESTING OUR RESILIENCE IN WAYS FEW HAVE EXPERIENCED.

TONIGHT, WE BRING YOU A SEGMENT OF THE DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING THE CRY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE HEARD DURING THE PANDEMIC AND AROUND THE WORLD.

-- IN MILTON AND AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I CAN'T BREATHE.

>> THERE ARE ALARMING NEW STATISTICS SHOWING THE PANDEMIC IS TAKING A HEAVY TOLL ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

IN ILLINOIS, MORE THAN 40% OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, EVEN THOUGH ONLY 15% OF THE POPULATION IS BLACK.

>> THERE IS A STATEMENT OFTEN MADE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WHENEVER WHITE PEOPLE GET A COLD, BLACK PEOPLE GET THE FLU.

WHATEVER LITTLE THING IMPACT'S WHITES, IT IMPACTS BLACKS WORSE.

>> WE HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH INFECTION RATES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE SENSE OF WHY THAT'S HAPPENING?

HOW CAN WE MAKE UP 13% OF THE COUNTRY AND SUCH A HIGH LEVEL OF INFECTION?

DR. FAUCI: THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS MORE LIKELY TO BE IN A JOB THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO STAY-AT-HOME AND DO TELEWORK.

>> WE SAW WITH OUR OWN EYES THAT OUR PATIENTS WHO WERE BLACK AND LATINO WERE AT FAR GREATER RISK OF GETTING REALLY SICK.

THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO ARE BEING EXPOSED.

PEOPLE WHO WORK IN TRANSPORTATION, OUR OWN HOSPITAL CLEANLINESS DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE WHO DELIVER GROCERIES, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN STORES AND PHARMACIES, THEY CAN'T REALLY TAKE A DAY OFF.

THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND BEING EXPOSED AND GETTING SICK.

>> COVID-19 IS A LEVELER.

IT AFFECTS EVERYONE.

EXCEPT, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING ADVERSE REACTIONS AND MORE ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THE INJUSTICE IN SOCIETY, THE UNEQUAL NATURE OF SOCIETY.

>> WHEN THE RACIAL NUMBERS STARTED TO BE REPORTED, IT WAS SHOCKING, YET NOT SURPRISING.

THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IMPACT PEOPLE OF COLOR MORE DEEPLY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HOUSING THAT IS MAYBE NOT AS GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH, PERHAPS THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGHER, THE LEVELS OF LEAD FOR CHILDREN IS HIGHER, ASTHMA, KIDNEY DISEASE, THESE ARE POPULATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY AT RISK.

>> THAT IS ONE THING THAT COVID IS HELPING US SEE, THE CRACKS IN OUR SOCIETY.

THE FACT THAT ESSENTIAL WORKERS, A LOT OF THEM ARE LOW INCOME FELLOW.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS AND THEY ARE THE ONES KEEPING US ALIVE.

THEY ARE THE ONES PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US.

>> WHEN WHITE LIVES ARE BEING LOST, PEOPLE JUMP INTO ACTION.

WHEN BLACK LIVES ARE BEING LOST, IT IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT AS A MAN OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY A BLACK MAN, MOST OF WHAT I HEAR I PROCESSED THROUGH A LENS OF RACE.

I PROCESS IT THROUGH A LENS OF RACE BECAUSE I AM VERY PRACTICED AT THAT.

>> STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

STEP OUT AND CHASE AWAY.

>> PLEASE DON'T SHOOT ME.

>> YOU ARE TALKING.

DEEP BREATH.

>> I CAN'T BREATHE.

I CAN'T BREATHE.

>> THE NATION ERUPTED INTO SCENES OF CHAOS.

VIOLENCE.

WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

>> I CANNOT LET MY GUARD DOWN ENOUGH THAT I COULD BELIEVE THAT IF I WERE STOPPED BY THE POLICE THAT I WOULD NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO GET HOME.

THAT DAY.

>> IT IS HARD TO BE BLACK IN AMERICA AND NOT FEEL SOME FORM OF STRESS.

STRESS, IN ALL OF THE MICRO AGGRESSIVE WAYS THAT WE COME ACROSS IT, INTERVIEWS FOR JOBS, WAITING FOR SERVICE AS A CUSTOMER, ALL KINDS OF ISSUES HAVE EXISTS -- ISSUES EXIST IN AND ALL OF THEIR WAYS THEY CHIP AWAY JUST A LITTLE BIT EVERY DAY.

JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING.

>> I BELIEVE COVID-19 HAD A HUGE ROLE IN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BLACK LIVES MATTER, GEORGE FLOYD WHO WAS MURDERED SENSELESSLY.

IT WAS BUILDING ON THE BACKS OF TRAGEDY THAT COVID-19 WAS FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.

PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME SAW INEQUITIES.

THEY ARE MORE IMPACTED BY THIS THEN WE ARE, SO THEY STARTED TO SEE THE SYSTEMIC THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT IMPACT PEOPLE DIFFERENT -- IMPACT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.

IT WAS ALL BUILDING, THAT'S WHY IT WAS SUCH A HUGE EXPLOSION, PEOPLE JUST SEEING SYSTEMIC RACISM FOR ONE IT WAS AND WHAT IT IS.

BEING MOVED TO SAY NO MORE, WE NEED CHANGE.

>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TEACHING US TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES HOW IS IT WE SURVIVE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO BELIEVE WE HAVE A LONGING FOR HEALTHIER WAYS OF LIVING, BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEMS, JUSTICE CENTERED COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT.

>> THE THING I BELIEVE IS THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU HAVE TO LAST.

I WANT TO LAST AS LONG AS I CAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THEN, AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.

I'VE GOT TO LAST IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> I HAVE SEEN CHANGE AND I BELIEVE THAT MORE CHANGE IS NECESSARY AND I THINK WE ARE A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS CAN BE.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY GOT WORK TO DO, BUT THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK SCHOOLS AND THE POLICE TO MAKE CHANGE AND TO BE POSITIVE AGENTS OF CHANGE AS A TOWN THAT COULD BE A MODEL FOR SUCCESS.

>> OUR THANKS TO TOM AND BRIAN.

THE FULL DOCUMENTARY, "REMEMBER THIS YEAR," WILL PREMIERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS MONDAY, APRIL 26 AT 9:00 P.M. PAMELA: FINALLY IN OUR SERIES "WINDOW ON RHODE ISLAND," WE VISIT LYNDEN PLACE, ONCE THE HOME OF THE LARGEST SLAVE TRADING FAMILY IN U.S. HISTORY.

IN RECENT MONTHS, INSTITUTIONS HAVE TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH RAILS ROLE JUSTICE.

-- RACIAL JUSTICE.

>> BEHIND ME IS A FEDERAL STYLE HOME BUILT IN 1810 BY GEORGE DEWOLFE.

GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE THE WOLF BOTH CAME FROM VERY PROMINENT WEALTHY FAMILIES.

GEORGE WAS VERY MUCH A WHEELER DEALER OPPORTUNIST IN TERMS OF BUSINESS.

WE LIKE TO THINK OF THE NORTHERN STATES AS BEING DELIBERATE TOURS -- LIBERATORS, THE ONES WHO WORKED AGAINST SLAVERY, ABOLITIONIST SOCIETIES.

IN REALITY, THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE INVOLVED EVERY BIT OF THE RHODE ISLAND ECONOMY.

THE FAMILY OWNED MANY SHIPS AND THEY ALSO OWNED THE TOWN BANKS.

THEY WOULD TAKE THESE SHIPS, LOAD THEM UP WITH HARAM AND SAILED TO AFRICA -- LOAD THEM UP WITH RUN AND TAKE THEM THE GOLD COAST.

THEY WOULD TAKE THAT RUM AND TRADE FOR ENSLAVED PEOPLE TO BE BROUGHT TO CUBA.

IT WAS A BRUTAL JOURNEY.

RUM WAS IN HIGH DEMAND, RHODE ISLAND RUM IN PARTICULAR.

THIS WAS A HUGE MONEYMAKER FOR THE FAMILY.

IN 1825, GEORGE HAD A RUSH OF BAD LUCK FINANCIALLY.

HE WAS LEFT BASICALLY BANKRUPT.

BUT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE TOWN'S FORTUNES WERE INVESTED IN THE DEWOLFE BUSINESS VENTURES, THE ENTIRE TOWN WENT BANKRUPT.

GEORGE, HIS WIFE CHARLOTTE AND THEIR CHILDREN FLED FROM LINDEN PLACE.

THEY RODE BANK TO BOSTON WHERE THEY CAUGHT THE FIRST SHIP TO CUBA WHERE THEY LIVED THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

PEOPLE WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY, THE BANKS WERE CLOSED AND THEY WANTED AN EXPLANATION.

THIS LED THE TOWN OF BRISTOL INTO A FINANCIAL DEPRESSION THAT LASTED DECADES.

LINDEN PLACE HAS BEEN OPERATING AS A CO-HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM FOR 30 YEARS.

WHEN COVID TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, IT REALLY GAVE US A CHANCE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT OUR STORY AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING WELL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING WELL, WHAT ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT?

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO BRISTOL HISTORY AND THE HISTORY OF THIS HOUSE.

WE SET OFF INVESTIGATING AND RESEARCHING STORIES THAT WE WEREN'T AWARE OF BEFORE.

>> MY NAME IS LYNN SMITH AND I AM A VOLUNTEER.

I DO HISTORICAL RESEARCH THROUGH THE SENSES AND BIRTH RECORDS AND MARRIAGE RECORDS.

WE STARTED TO BUILD A MORE ROBUST STORY.

DANIEL TANNER WAS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL FREE BLACK MAN WHO RAN A BUSINESS RIGHT HERE IN THE CONSERVATORY OF LINDEN PLACE.

SOME OF THE SOUTHERN PLANTATIONS, IT WAS QUITE COMMON FOR THE WEALTHY OWNERS TO HAVE WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A WAITING MAN.

IT WAS A BLACK SLAVE, A MAN SERVANT WHO WAS HIS PERSONAL VALET.

HE MADE SURE HIS CLOTHES WERE PERFECT.

THAT TRADITION MIGRATED NORTH, AND BARBERS BECAME WELL-KNOWN FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF THEIR SKILL.

WE KNOW THAT DANIEL TANNER WAS PROBABLY THE GREAT-GRANDSON OF A LOCAL SLAVE TANNER.

INTERESTINGLY, HE WAS MORE THAN JUST A BLACK BARBER.

WE FOUND A STORY IN THE LOCAL PHOENIX THAT HE STARTED THE EXCELSIOR CORONET BAND AND WAS QUITE PROUD THAT HE AND HIS BAND MARCHED IN THE FAMOUS BRISTOL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE EVERY YEAR.

>> THIS WHOLE ADVENTURE OF DELVING INTO NOT ONLY DANIEL TANNER'S HISTORY BUT THAT OF HIS FAMILY AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO BRISTOL AND NEWPORT, WE FEEL WILL OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW SIDE OF THIS MANSION'S HISTORY.

>> WE EXTEND OUR THANKS TO SUSAN BATTLE AND LYNN SMITH.

MICHELLE: I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND STAY SAFE.

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