Black Lives in the Founding Era

About the Course

This course focused on historical Black figures and considered their life, legacy, and accomplishments. Each class focused on a different theme embodied in the respective historical figure’s life and writings and a discussion with a cast member from the musical Hamilton.

Topics Covered

March 9, 2021: Olaudah Equiano with special guest Jared Dixon
March 16, 2021: Sally Hemings with special guest Simon Longnight
March 23, 2021: Lemuel Haynes and Peter Kiteredge with special guest Krystal Joy Brown
March 30, 2021: Patty Gipson and Absalom Jones with special guest Warren Egypt Franklin
April 6, 2021: Paul Cuffe with special guest Marcus John
April 13, 2021: Belinda Sutton with special guest Morgan Wood
April 20, 2021: Phillis Wheatley with special guest Ashley De La Rosa
April 27, 2021: Richard Allen with special guest Marja Harmon

Class 1

Olaudah Equiano with special guest Jared Dixon

Recorded March 9, 2021

Class 2

Sally Hemings with special guest Simon Longnight

Recorded March 16, 2021

Class 3

Lemuel Haynes and Peter Kiteredge with special guest Krystal Joy Brown

Recorded March 23, 2021

Class 4

Patty Gipson and Absalom Jones with special guest Warren Egypt Franklin

Recorded March 30, 2021

Class 5

Paul Cuffe with special guest Marcus John

Recorded April 6, 2021

Class 6

Belinda Sutton with special guest Morgan Wood

Recorded April 13, 2021

Class 7

Phillis Wheatley with special guest Ashley De La Rosa

Recorded April 20, 2021

Class 8

Richard Allen with special guest Marja Harmon

Recorded April 27, 2021

About the Teacher

Jason Butler was an award-winning teacher of social studies, English literature, and Spanish for fourteen years. He has an enduring passion for teaching, researching, and writing on Black history, having completed a master’s thesis entitled “Down but Not Out: How Slavery Survived the Constitutional Era.”

Black Lives in the Founding Era | History School (2021)