The 'Trace/s' exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library reveals the deep ties between the history of slavery in Brooklyn and its modern-day residents. It features various historical documents and artifacts, including bills of sale, possessions, and newspaper clippings, illustrating how enslaved individuals shaped the borough's landscape. Of particular significance is the dual portrait display of slave owner John A. Lott and Mildred Jones, a descendant of his enslaved people, highlighting the personal narratives that underscore the larger picture of Brooklyn's past. Jones emphasizes the importance of genealogy in understanding these collective histories.
Slavery didn't just happen in Brooklyn; it changed Brooklyn. Enslaved people in Brooklyn transformed the terrain of Kings County from an ecosystem of Indigenous land stewardship to a network of thriving plantation farms.
I'm sensing the whole importance of us doing our genealogy. It's not so much about who we are as individuals, but it tells a bigger story, and we need that bigger story to be told.
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