Election Day and Claiming Space (2:27)

Mariner played by Deity Dionysus

In 1741, Salem, along with a few other Massachusetts towns, started allowing enslaved and free blacks to gather together once a year and elect their own Black Governor, who would act as a judge, mediator, and liaison, and who would speak on behalf of the black community. This tradition carried on for generations, and is widely known as the first occurrence of voting rights for blacks in the United States. In 1885, the picnic became more of a community/church gathering, and was permanently moved to the Salem Willows Park. Now called the Black Picnic, this gathering is still honored and held every year in Salem.