Intersection of Poet Jupiter Hammon & Long Island History

WWBA collaborates with community members to interpret Jupiter Hammon’s poetry in historical contexts. Hammon (1711-ca. 1806) is known as a founder of African-American literature. Born into slavery, Hammon published his first poem, “An Evening Thought. Salvation by Christ with Penitential Cries,” at 50 years of age. He gained wide circulation and used his Christian biblical foundation to criticize the institution of slavery. Robert Hughes, Huntington Town Historian, discusses his book “Slavery in Huntington and its Abolition.” Lauren Brincat, Curator of Preservation Long Island (PLI), discusses their major initiative to interpret Hammon’s life while enslaved at the Joseph Lloyd Manor house in Lloyd Harbor. Poet David Mills discusses Jupiter Hammon, the man and the poet, and reads his own poetry.