February 25 | 2:30pm | 207 Water Street | Free
Join the Seaport Museum for an enlightening afternoon with esteemed poet David Mills. Together, we will explore the profound themes of his award-winning book of poems, Boneyarn, which is the first book of poetry about the history of slavery in New York City.
During the program, Mills will read a selection of his poems and shed light on the African Burial Ground—the oldest and largest slave cemetery in the United States––which is located just blocks away from the Museum. Operating from 1712 to 1795, this burial ground is the resting place of 15,000 enslaved and free Blacks, along with some Native Americans and impoverished white people. Mills’ groundbreaking work captures the stories of those who worked as cooks, childhood chimney sweeps, laborers on the docks near South Street Seaport, participants in the Revolutionary War, and individuals who maintained African traditions in burial practices.
Don’t miss this unique event where Mills will creatively “excavate” the tragedies and triumphs of New York’s enslaved and free Black community. Advanced registration is suggested for this free event but walkups will be accommodated as possible. Boneyarn will be available for purchase at the event.
Please Note This is a Past Program, Event, or Activity
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Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the historic ships and exhibitions on view is not included with your ticket to this event. If you would like to explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about General Admission tickets when you check in.
General Admission is available Friday through Sunday, from 11am to 5pm and brings you aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, and into all current exhibitions on view in the first-floor Schermerhorn Row galleries at 12 Fulton Street. Your ticket also sets you on course to explore Maritime City, the Seaport Museum’s immersive, three-floor exhibition at A.A. Thomson & Co., located at 213 Water Street.
About the Speaker
David Mills holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and an MA from New York University. He’s published four collections: The Dream Detective, The Sudden Country, After Mistic (Massachusetts slavery poems) and the bestselling Boneyarn. His poems have appeared in Ploughshares, Brooklyn Rail, Colorado Review, Crab Orchard Review Jubilat, Callaloo, Obsidian, The Common, Brooklyn Rail, Rattapallax, The Literary Review, The African-American Review and Fence. He has also received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Breadloaf, the Lannan Foundation, the Queens Council on the Arts, the Bronx Council on the Arts, Washington College and The American Antiquarian Society. He lived in Langston Hughes’ landmark Harlem home for three years (was a recipient of the Langston Hughes Society Award) and wrote the audio script for Macarthur-Genius-Award Winner Deborah Willis’ curated exhibition: Reflections in Black: 100 Years of Black Photography. The Juilliard School of Drama commissioned and produced a play by Mr. Mills. He has recorded his poetry on ESPN, RCA Records and has had poems displayed at the Venice Biennale and Germany’s Documenta art exhibition.
Ready for more?
Head over to our Programs and Events page to see what else is happening at the Museum. Sign up for an upcoming talk, learn more about visiting Wavertree, or explore our virtual offerings.