As the City of Newport became the premier Gilded Age playground in America, a vibrant year-round African heritage community flourished. It was led by doctors, ministers, and businessmen. Some of these men got involved with local and national politics and became key figures in the early Civil Rights movement in America. This lecture will focus on the graves of some of the many people of African heritage that contributed to Newport’s history. George Downing was important in the growth of the Newport community and active in the civil rights movement in America. Downing was part of the group that donated funds for the city to buy land that is today Touro Park. Plans are underway to install a statue of Downing in the park, just across form the site of his former businesses.
Saturday, March 21st at 2:30 pm
$15 per person
The lecture will take place in the Belmont Chapel and weather permitting, we’ll visit a few graves of the featured people.
