Strangers in a Strange Land a Talk on the Free African Union movement by Keith Stokes
Nov 10 6-7:30pm
FREE
About Strangers in a Strange Land, a Talk on the Free African Union
This talk will interpret the evolution of the Free African Union movement during the American Revolution era, showcasing the profound influence of the African Diaspora on the advancement of Black identity in early America. It will be held on the anniversary of its founding.
Griot, Historian, Intellectual, Convener, Public Policy Wonk, Father, Husband, and son of Rhode Island
Throughout his four decades of public service in Rhode Island, Keith W. Stokes has remained dedicated to building a community that welcomes everyone who calls the Ocean State home. He has served in various roles, including as an elected official in his cherished Newport hometown and a gubernatorial appointee focused on economic development. Additionally, he has contributed to the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island, leading business development efforts. Stokes has consistently aimed to intertwine public funding with private development to nurture a strong and beloved community.
Keith earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and completed his graduate studies in public policy at the University of Chicago. His education is enriched by the stories of his ancestors, who have shared long-held narratives from a time before the American Revolution, providing him with a unique perspective on the present.
Keith is presently Director of the State of Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. He has also been an Advisor for Rhode Island with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and served on numerous local, regional, and national business and public boards, including Preservation Society for Newport County, Touro Synagogue Foundation, Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission Historical Review Board, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Quonset Development Corporation, Rhode Island Foundation, and the American Antiquarian Society.
His current passion is borne of a heritage that extends before the republic and grounds his roots in the land of Rhode Island. From his father, the cerebral and equally physical baseball, and from his mother, a grounding in history and a curiosity to learn more about his African, Jewish, and Caribbean family roots.
He frequently appears on national historical programs, including C-SPAN, Fox News Legends & Lies, and Ted Talk. Recently, he was the lead researcher and author of “A Matter of Truth” publication for the examination and documentation of the role of the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island in supporting a “Separate and Unequal” existence for African heritage, Indigenous, and People of Color.
He is a 9th-generation Rhode Islander who calls Newport home with his beloved wife Theresa. He is the father of four children and an extended clan of Pit Bull dogs that he rescues and nurtures.