Gallery 2

I think the most interesting thing I will take away from this exhibit is that on the map of the city,
there were 2 New Yorks because the slaves mapped out places where there was no
surveillance. So the slaves could be free for an hour or so when they escaped into these
paradises. One of the main hangout places was the African American Burial Grounds because
none of the white people wanted to go there. This was a great way for blacks to mingle with
each other and build camaraderie within their own community.
Gallery 3:
The ad for the runaway slave was something that stood out to me in that gallery. I am amazed
at how detail oriented it was. When I first read it, I was just thinking that the descriptions were
straight forward in describing the runaway slave. Then I read on the side, that there are details
when you hover over certain words, and I did not realize that certain descriptions of the slave
implied other things about her. Like, the description sensible, cunning, and artful is a way of
demeaning the slave more than complimenting her, the slave owner is showing that the slave is
being deceptive. Another description I thought was interesting was the one about the dress. I
didnt know what style was in for the upper class women, but apparently, the calico gown is
something that a slave owners wife would wear, hence suggesting that the slave stole the
garment. I also thought that listing her skills was interesting because it showed possible roles
she could be playing in order to disappear. And even where they lived, the slave owner took all
precautions even tell people to check to boats.
Gallery 4:
I think the part that stood out to me the most was how many free slaves there were in New York
in the late 1770s. There were more that 10,000 slaves that crammed there. I also didnt know
that they were freed because the British conquered New York. And that 3,000 slaves sailed
away with them. I had no idea about New York and the amount of free slaves nor did I know
how they were freed, and I dont think I know the entire story, but it has given me a new
perspective on the insights of slavery before the Emancipation Proclamation.
Gallery 6
I think the part that stood out to me in this gallery was the statistic that within 14 years, 1 out of 3
slaves was freed. That is a lot of free slaves and for 14 years, I know that that is the majority of
my lifetime, but for a country like America, that had an economy that was built on slavery and all
theyve really known was slavery, is pretty good. I know inherently things are supposed to
change, but I understand how hard change can be. So for that drastic amount of people to be
freed within that many years, is astonishing to me.
Gallery 7
I think the part that stood out to me the most in this gallery was the differences between the two
pictures. The first picture, depicts the average day in 1819, everyone is walking leisurely
throughout what looks to be an average street in the city. Everyone looks civil and at peace and
as the gallery describes it, everything is in its proper place showing the strong support against
the emancipation of slaves. The second picture depicts a street that is half a mile away from the

previous one and the picture is set ten years later. The artist has painted a scene in which there
are a lot of people in the street hustling and bustling to get stuff done. It shows Black New
Yorkers with exaggerated facial features that contribute the portrayal of mayhem that has been
caused by this emancipation. I think this shows how hard it really was for Blacks in general to
get any respect that they deserved at that time and it shows how the rest of America, meaning
the White people, felt about the emancipation.