Black Heritage in Providence
While always acknowledging Providence's legacy of participation in the slave trade, we also want to celebrate the rich history of the Black community from the early days of the Revolution to the present day. From the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society's exhibit on Black entrepreneurs to the African American Museum of Rhode Island, stories of Black excellence and accomplishment are plentiful. Be sure to stop for lunch or dinner at one of Providence's many Black-owned restaurants while you visit the sites on the Early Black History Walking Tour. With a variety of cuisines from Southern soul food to traditional African meals, you're sure to find something you like!
Top Mural: "Salt Water" by Garden of Journey (Georgie Nakima)
Rhode Island Black Film Festival: Black Culture in Film
The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) proudly presents the 44th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival & Conference, to be held in Warwick, Rhode Island. This year’s theme, Unbreakable Spirit: Telling Our Story, 250 Years and Beyond, honors the enduring strength, cultural richness, and intergenerational legacy of Black storytelling in America.For over four decades, NABS has gathered tellers and listeners from across the African diaspora to celebrate our oral traditions through performance, fellowship, education, and community building. This year’s festival, co-hosted by Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS), promises to be a powerful homecoming of voices, featuring dynamic storytelling concerts, workshops, youth programs, scholarly discussions, sacred rituals, and unforgettable cultural experiences.
Stages of Freedom
10 WESTMINSTER STREET | PROVIDENCE, RI
Stages of Freedom was founded in 2016 with a goal of building community and advancing racial equity through the arts and humanities. In addition to their signature Swim Empowerment program, which provides free swimming lessons at partner YMCAs for youth of color, they offer a variety of cultural workshops to elevate and empower the BIPOC community. Workshops include Bow Ties for Boys and Girls Tea Party, as well as visits to museums, theater and concerts. Their Westminster St. location is home to a Museum of African American history, which features exhibits, videos and artifacts highlighting stories of Black excellence and accomplishment in Rhode Island.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I learn about Black history in Providence?
Visit the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society on Eddy Street, the African American Museum of Rhode Island on Broad Street, and the Stages of Freedom museum on Westminster Street, which highlights stories of Black excellence and accomplishment in Rhode Island.
- Is there a Black history walking tour?
Yes. The Early Black History Walking Tour visits sites tied to Providence’s Black community, from the Revolutionary era to today.
- What is Stages of Freedom?
Founded in 2016, Stages of Freedom advances racial equity through the arts and humanities. It offers free swimming lessons for youth of color through its Swim Empowerment program, cultural workshops and a museum of African American history in downtown Providence.
- Where can I find Black-owned restaurants?
Providence is home to Black-owned restaurants, food trucks and more, serving everything from Southern soul food to African and Caribbean cuisine. See our guide to Black-owned restaurants in Providence.
- Are there Black cultural events and art in Providence?
Yes. The Rhode Island Black Film Festival each spring showcases African American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino cinema, and murals like “Salt Water” by Georgie Nakima (Garden of Journey) celebrate Black heritage downtown.
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