When Reason Sleeps, Brutality Walks Free ~ Black History at Ashland
February 17 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Black History at Ashland
Ashland is renowned as the home of Senator Henry Clay and four generations of his descendants. However, the luxury and comfort they enjoyed were only possible because of the labor of Black men, women, and children.
Before the Civil War, these individuals were enslaved, living and working at Ashland against their will. Despite this, they seized every opportunity to try and make their voices heard. After the war, they were employed laborers, yet their stories remain largely unrecorded in their own words. Instead, we uncover their experiences through archival fragments and archaeological discoveries.
This February, join us for “When Reason Sleeps, Brutality Walks Free“, as we delve into Black History at Ashland. Through archival exploration and the powerful art of renowned contemporary artist Yinka Shonibare CBE on loan from Jim Gray and local artists, we honor and piece together these untold stories.
What’s included
- A photograph and a sculpture by internationally renowned British Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE, among other artwork by local artists related to Black History.
- Hear the stories of enslaved people from before the Civil War and the stories of African American employees from after the Civil War.
- See Henry Clay’s historic 18-room mansion through the eyes of those for whom it was a place of labor.