Freed Blacks Colonial Period and Regency Era

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Blacks that remained loyal to the British Crown during the Revolutionary War? Or to those that received an inheritance like in Jane Austen's unfinished novel Sanditon? During Jane Austen's Regency Era, we know that there was some 20,000 freed Blacks working, performing, and living in England. The first Black man to vote in England's general election in 1774 was Ignatius Sancho. Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay, a mixed raced young lady received an inheritance from her British Naval Captain father. Moreover, there were freed Blacks carving out a life in the North Carolina and throughout the Americas. Not all were enslaved. This Study Tour will unveil the lives of those freed Blacks during America's Revolutionary period as well during Regency era England.

Our tour will leave from the North Carolina Museum of Art parking lot located in Raleigh and head towards New Bern, North Carolina for a full day of adventures.

The itinerary will include an escorted coach ride to this lovely quaint town on the Neuse River in eastern North Carolina. You will have a full lecture on the Freed Blacks of Colonial period and the Regency era during your ride. During this trip, you will discover James City, one of North Carolina's oldest settlements along with other important places where freed Blacks worked and lived. A highlight of the tour will be the opportunity to view several murals, statues and historical places that represent New Bern's Black population. You will start with a delicious lunch provided by a well-known Black chef. During lunch, we will have a robust book discussion of the “Book of Negroes”, featuring selections that will broaden your perspective and knowledge of the African diaspora in America. We will also ascertain if Jane Austen may have been influenced by what she saw and read. You are encouraged to review Austen's books Mansfield Park and Emma prior to our trip. We will discover the craftsmanship of the freed and enslaved Blacks which includes carpenters, coopers, dressmakers, blacksmith, and bricklayers that built the town.

We will have the opportunity to listen to 18th century music by an African composers that settled in England while enjoying afternoon tea in the Regency style with sweet treats. You will have some free time to shop around downtown pedestrian-friendly New Bern, a beautiful waterfront city before returning to Raleigh.

Others that have taken this Study Tour report thoroughly enjoying it while enriching their knowledge of Black history.

NOTE: special arrangments and pricing will be made for those attending the Jane Austen Summer Program (JASP) in New Bern.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, United States