Home - Rhode Island Slave History Medallions

Bike to the Newport Black History Walking Tours

Join the movement and enjoy the ride while helping reduce traffic congestion! Read on for routes, maps, Park & Bike locations, and more via our partner Bike Newport.

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Vol. 10 Newport Juneteenth Special Edition

Special Newport Juneteenth Celebration 2026 edition with the event schedule, vendors and performers.

Read the Full RISHM Review

Juneteenth Living History Celebration returns to Fort Adams this weekend - The Rhode Show

“The Rhode Show” welcomed Charles Roberts, Founder/Executive Director of Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, as he chatted with Brendan Kirby about the upcoming Fourth Annual Newport Juneteenth Event taking place Saturday, June 20, at Fort Adams State Park.

Read the Full Article

Newport Juneteenth celebration to mark fourth year at Fort Adams with RI 250 theme

RISHM’s expanded event on June 20 will feature a keynote from Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a reenactors’ parade, music and performances by Narragansett, Pokanoket and other artists

Read the Full Article

Charles Roberts delivers speech at United Nations' Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Charles L. Roberts delivers a powerful address at the UN on the need to confront gender inequality as a barrier to Africa’s progress and development.

Read the Full Article

Acts of Remembrance:
Announcing the Downing Commemorative Public Art Project

We are excited to officially announce RISHM’s campaign to build the first-ever statue of a person of color to be erected in Newport. 19th century Black entrepreneur and abolitionist George T. Downing (1809-1903) will be commemorated via a life-size statue, to be sculpted by renowned public art sculptor Vinnie Bagwell.

In the meantime, we ask you to support our efforts by helping to fund these new and ongoing initiatives:

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RISHM General Expenses

Downing Commemorative Public Art Project

Medallion Installations & Public Programs

Black History Month Programming

Newport Juneteenth Celebration

Newport Black History Walking Tours

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Newport Black History Walking Tours

Self-Guided (Coming Soon)

Newport Black History Tours Testimonials

"You gave us some fascinating insights into the Black community in Newport, especially the Free African Union Society - so impressive!"

"I enjoyed the tour immensely. Foremost in my mind is how various themes can be relayed using the same townscape as the background."

"It was amazing! Thank you for coordinating this & providing this resource."

"I enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable about history. The length of the tour was perfect and the walk was manageable."

"We have been to Newport dozens of times and never knew its history with enslaved peoples."

"We appreciated the positive/respectful manner in which all of the information was presented."

"The biggest surprise for me was Cato Vernon. He got a special commendation for good behavior, fidelity, being trustworthy and bravery at the conclusion of the revolutionary war."

"I was fascinated to learn about the black history that had been missing from my knowledge of Newport history."

"Our guide was excellent, courteous and knowledgeable about history in general. This tour is a must for rounding out Newport’s amazing, long history."

"Our two guides were knowledgeable and friendly."

"Learning details about specific enslaved people and their lives, as well as the organizations of free Africans."

"The stories of individual 'hidden' enslaved people Use of James Baldwin quotes How the medallions were conceived and created."

"Seeing the medallions and knowing they are going up everywhere with QR codes to tell the African American influence in American history."

Learn More

Latest Videos

Charles L. Roberts delivers a powerful two-minute address at the United Nations on the urgent need to confront gender inequality as a barrier to Africa’s progress and sustainable development.

Video Library

RISHM Quick Facts

70% of all colonial slave voyages began in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was fully complicit with America’s south in the business of slavery.

Rhode Island merchants and ships were responsible for transporting more than 100,000 Africans, who were captured, trafficked and enslaved in America.

Other Rhode Islanders, including prominent clergymen Samuel Hopkins, and Ezra Stiles (a founder of Brown University and a president of Yale College), despite having both been enslavers, eventually were in the forefront of anti-slavery movement.

Since RISHM's founding in 2019, 16 bronze medallions have been installed across Rhode Island and public interest is growing for historical recognition and equity.

Medallions provide a publicly accessible history of lesser known Black persons' stories and the vital contributions they made to Rhode Island and to the nation.

RISHM partners with municipalities, organizations and private land owners, to commemorate these people and places alongside historians, educators, multi-cultural performances and engaging storytellers, all of which is intended to inspire racial healing.

Latest Updates

Juneteenth Living History Celebration returns to Fort Adams this weekend

This morning on “The Rhode Show” we welcomed Charles Roberts, Founder/Executive Director of Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, as he chatted with Brendan Kirby about the upcoming Fourth Annual Newport…

Newport Juneteenth celebration to mark fourth year at Fort Adams with RI 250 theme

RISHM’s expanded event on June 20 will feature a keynote from Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a reenactors’ parade, music and performances by Narragansett, Pokanoket and other artists…

All Articles

Let's Make History Together

“We’ve got to be responsible. Someone’s got to be responsible for it.”

– George T. Downing

The Year Ahead: As we prepare for the challenges and accomplishments of the year to come, and all the many ways RISHM will be able to grow through your support, we want to take a moment to express our most sincere thanks. The important work RISHM does around commemorating the lives of the enslaved as well as open dialogues for racial understanding and healing would not be possible without you.

Please help us continue our work in 2026 & beyond.

– Charles Roberts & the RISHM Team

Acts of Remembrance: Announcing the Downing Commemorative Public Art Project

Fund-a-need

Newport Black History Walking Tours

Self-Guided (Coming Soon)

"You gave us some fascinating insights into the Black community in Newport, especially the Free African Union Society - so impressive!"

"I enjoyed the tour immensely. Foremost in my mind is how various themes can be relayed using the same townscape as the background."

"It was amazing! Thank you for coordinating this & providing this resource."

"I enjoyed the tour very much. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable about history. The length of the tour was perfect and the walk was manageable."

"We have been to Newport dozens of times and never knew its history with enslaved peoples."

"We appreciated the positive/respectful manner in which all of the information was presented."

"The biggest surprise for me was Cato Vernon. He got a special commendation for good behavior, fidelity, being trustworthy and bravery at the conclusion of the revolutionary war."

"I was fascinated to learn about the black history that had been missing from my knowledge of Newport history."

"Our guide was excellent, courteous and knowledgeable about history in general. This tour is a must for rounding out Newport’s amazing, long history."

"Our two guides were knowledgeable and friendly."

"Learning details about specific enslaved people and their lives, as well as the organizations of free Africans."

"The stories of individual 'hidden' enslaved people Use of James Baldwin quotes How the medallions were conceived and created."

"Seeing the medallions and knowing they are going up everywhere with QR codes to tell the African American influence in American history."

Charles L. Roberts delivers a powerful two-minute address at the United Nations on the urgent need to confront gender inequality as a barrier to Africa’s progress and sustainable development.

RISHM Quick Facts

70% of all colonial slave voyages began in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island was fully complicit with America’s south in the business of slavery.

Rhode Island merchants and ships were responsible for transporting more than 100,000 Africans, who were captured, trafficked and enslaved in America.

Other Rhode Islanders, including prominent clergymen Samuel Hopkins, and Ezra Stiles (a founder of Brown University and a president of Yale College), despite having both been enslavers, eventually were in the forefront of anti-slavery movement.

Since RISHM's founding in 2019, 16 bronze medallions have been installed across Rhode Island and public interest is growing for historical recognition and equity.

Medallions provide a publicly accessible history of lesser known Black persons' stories and the vital contributions they made to Rhode Island and to the nation.

RISHM partners with municipalities, organizations and private land owners, to commemorate these people and places alongside historians, educators, multi-cultural performances and engaging storytellers, all of which is intended to inspire racial healing.

Let's Make History Together.

Search the RISHM Site

Acts of Remembrance:
Announcing the Downing Commemorative Public Art Project