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Keith Stokes, Vice President with the historical consulting firm, 1696 Heritage Group is "dedicated to helping persons and institutions of color to increase their knowledge and access to the light of truth of their unique American heritage." Learn about how the skills, culture and creations of African and indigenous heritage people built Rhode Island, New England and our American culture. 

"When I was a very young boy, my grandmother in Newport reminded me that black history is not slavery, in fact, black history is actually a history of the people and how we survived and thrived despite slavery. So, for me it's been a life-long pursuit of telling the story of people of color from their perspective in their experience, arriving in the Americas." - Keith Stokes