Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A direct descendant of a prominent slave trader has been named to lead the creation of a slave trade museum in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island's now-closed Providence cathedral.
Rhode Island Public Radio reports (http://bit.ly/1IaCjy6 ) that James DeWolf Perry will be executive director of the national Center for Reconciliation in the former Cathedral of St. John.
Perry descends from James DeWolf, the leading slave trader in U.S. history. Perry received an Emmy Award nomination for his role as historical consultant for a documentary that looked at his family's role in the slave trade.
Perry's graduate research focused on the slave trade and abolitionism.
Diocese official Linda Grenz previously said the state's role as one of the busiest slave-trading hubs in North America meant the church had to address it.
___
Information from: RIPR-FM, http://www.wrni.org/
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
