The Skills That Helped Shape Early America
NKY History Hour Discusses the Expertise Enslaved Africans Brought to America
Join educator, author and filmmaker Dr. Joan Ferrante for “Skills They Already Possessed: What Enslaved Africans Brought With Them,” a free virtual program on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Ferrante will examine the specialized training and experience many enslaved Africans carried across the Atlantic. Rather than learning trades only after arrival, many individuals were already accomplished in areas such as furniture making, textile production, pearl diving and other skilled work that was actively sought through the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Dr. Ferrante will discuss how this expertise contributed to the creation of beautiful furniture, clothing and household goods that defined early American homes. While the finished pieces were visible, the knowledge and labor behind them often went unrecognized.
Dr. Joan Ferrante is an educator, author, speaker and filmmaker whose work explores race and identity in American history. She is the founder and director of the Mourning the Creation of Racial Categories Project, which brings artists and communities together to examine how racial categories were formed in the United States and how that history continues to shape society.
The program also connects to Behringer-Crawford Museum’s exhibit, Treasures From the Attic: 250 Years of Fashion & Furniture, on display now through August. 9, 2026. By learning more about the craftsmanship behind these objects, participants may gain a deeper understanding of the pieces on display and the stories connected to them. For admission information and upcoming programs connected to the exhibition, CLICK HERE.
Special thanks to the R.C. Durr Foundation, Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air, NKU Public History Program, Heather French Henry, the Rosemary Clooney House, Habitat for Humanity Restores and St. Vincent de Paul.
