THE GILDED AGE: Season 3 Spotlights Newport, RI's African Heritage Communities (Ep. 74)

Episode 74 features a conversation with Keith W. Stokes, Rhode Island State Historian Laureate, and Theresa “Soni” Guzman Stokes, Executive Director for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society (advisors for Season 3 of THE GILDED AGE) about Newport and Rhode Island’s African heritage history.

In THE GILDED AGE’s 3rd season, the HBO series created by Julian Fellowes (DOWNTON ABBEY), audiences are introduced to the Kirklands of Newport, Rhode Island, a family with deep roots in Newport’s African heritage community with the professional and educational pedigrees to match. 

CONTENT NOTES: This podcast is being released prior to the June 22nd premiere of THE GILDED AGE's 3rd season. There may be a few spoilers in the conversation. The word "colored" comes up in its historical content and context. The word “colored” was used in the U.S. to refer to people of African descent during the mid to late 19th century. African Americans embraced "colored" as a self-identifying term during that time, followed by "Negro" (historical content and context).

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0:16 - Introduction to the podcast and THE GILDED AGE season 3

1:17 - GILDED AGE Season 3 Black Newport storyline

2:44 - Rhode Island's Black Heritage Society, Theresa Soni Guzmán Stokes and Keith W. Stokes

3:52 - Inspiration for Gilded Age Newport In Color exhibition at Rosecliff Mansion (2024)

6:45 - Exploring Newport's African Heritage History

8:55 - Challenges and importance of history from the African heritage experience 

17:21 - Interdependence versus integration

23:59 - Newport's African heritage leaders in business and medicine

25:17 - Colored Women's Clubs founder Mary Dickerson

32:54 - Break

33:32 - Race consciousness and uplift in African heritage Newport community 

39:11 - Education and Black advancement

46:56 - Supporting heritage and historical institutions

48:08 - Teaching history and positive youth identity

50:46 - Cape Verdeans in African heritage and New England history

51:39 - Visiting Newport's African heritage and history

58:54 - Theresa Soni Guzmán Stokes' and Keith W. Stokes' historical drama pitches

1:05:51 - Where to watch THE GILDED AGE

1:06:18 - Rhode Island Black Heritage Society virtual tour and website info

1:08:29 - Disclaimer

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