In this 1-hour presentation, Ray Rickman draws on his extensive knowledge of both Rhode Island history and African American history and culture to highlight the effect Slavery had and continues to have on this state. He explains the economic basis of slavery and its African origins. He provides detailed information on how many Rhode Islanders were involved and how it elevated the entire economy of the state. Attention is paid to every aspect of the trade, including manufacturing of “Negro” cloth and the building of slave ships with wood and material from most towns in Rhode Island.

About Ray: Ray Rickman is a lifelong Civil Rights activist with 50 years of experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. At every stage of his career, he has worked to right injustices that cynics thought would never be fixed. In 1986, Ray was elected to the RI House of Representatives. Ray championed social justice issues such as mass incarceration, LGBTQ+ rights, the right to choose, the rights of Southeast Asian immigrants, voting rights, and the statewide referendum on a woman's right to choose. He remains proud of voting against draconian crime bills that created mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes and led to mass incarceration. Ray also co-founded Shape Up RI, the nation's first statewide wellness program, which transformed over 100,000 people. Earlier, he founded Adopt A Doctor to provide financial assistance to African doctors in four of the world’s poorest nations.

Currently, as Executive Director of Stages of Freedom, Ray works to provide no-cost swimming lessons to low income African American youth. Ray and Program Director, Robb Dimmick, recently opened Stages of Freedom’s groundbreaking African American History Museum and Bookstore in downtown Providence— the only one of its kind in Rhode Island. This exciting new endeavor builds bridges of racial understanding through its unique exhibits showcasing Rhode Island’s rich and complex Black history and culture.

This program is supported by the Friends of Tiverton Libraries and the RI Office of Library and Information Services, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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