10/14/2026
What did freedom mean in a city where the ideals of liberty coexisted with slavery?
On October 15, Pace University and Humanities New York invite the community to “Slavery and the Price of Freedom in Revolutionary New York,” an interactive discussion examining the complexities of freedom in early America.
Led by Joe Murphy, director of strategic partnerships at Humanities New York, the conversation will explore the story of Peter Williams Sr., a formerly enslaved New Yorker who gained his freedom in 1796.
Participants will examine historical documents, reflect on the realities of enslavement in Lower Manhattan, and consider the lasting impact of slavery on New York City.
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 7:00pm to 8:15pm
📍 One Pace Plaza, Zannino Conference Room
The event is free and open to the public.
What did freedom really mean in revolutionary New York? Join Pace University and Humanities New York for a community conversation exploring the history of slavery in Lower Manhattan through a 1796 document that granted freedom to Peter Williams Sr. Together, participants will examine the promise of....