The Lewes Historical Museum features an exhibit about the black community in Lewes.
“Voices Heard” is a collaboration between the Lewes Historical Society and the African American Heritage Commission of Lewes.
Nearly 50% of Lewes’ population in 1800 were people of color, 30% of whom were free blacks and 17% were slaves. Today, less than 1% of Lewes’ residents are people of color.
“It’s important to interact with history and communities in different ways,” said Jose Marcos Salaverria, education director at the Lewes Historical Society.
“The audio and video recordings preserve not only the stories of the people, but also the places they visited, where they lived, worked and celebrated,” Salaverria said. “They speak of things that are past but not forgotten.”
Voices Heard is the result of three years of research into this community in Lewes and includes a documentary film with interviews with several people whose lineage can be traced back to Lewes. The first year of the project involved collecting oral histories and the second year involved a walking tour.
Salaverria has presented the documentary to several hundred eighth-graders and hopes to take the exhibit on tour after the end of the school year.
During his research, Salaverria sought advice for his work as a historian from a close friend.
“Let’s be honest,” Salaverria said. “There are not enough voices of people of color in the field of museums and public history. So remember, this is not about you, this is about you sharing the story of someone else who has often been prevented, if not themselves, then their ancestors, from telling that story.”
Salaverria has presented the documentary to several hundred middle school students since its premiere on June 30, 2023, and hopes to take the exhibition on the road.
“Voices Heard” opened in April and will be on display at the museum until the end of the year.
For more information about Voices Heard, visit the Lewes Historical Society website.