Black Poetry Day and the 313th anniversary of the birth of Black writer Jupiter Hammon, one of America’s first published Black poets will be celebrated with a free event on October 19th at Joseph Lloyd Manor, and will include tours of the historic house, a poetry reading by author David Mills and refreshments in the garden overlooking Lloyd Harbor on the North Shore of Long Island.
Jupiter Hammon (1711–before 1806) was born into slavery at Henry Lloyd Manor on October 17, 1711, a date now celebrated as Black Poetry Day. Hammon went on to compose several of his most significant works about the moral conflicts of slavery and freedom in the early United States while later enslaved at by the Lloyd family at what is now known as Joseph Lloyd Manor.
Designated as a National Literary Landmark in 2020 by the United for Libraries and Empire State Center for the Book in honor Hammon’s literary achievements and a site that enslaved generations of people of African descent, the ca. 1767 manor house is now one of Preservation Long Island’s historic houses.
On Saturday, October 19th, the site will open at 2 pm for self-guided tours and refreshments. Beginning at 2:30 pm, author David Mills will read original poetry from his award-winning book Boneyarn, a book of poems about slavery in New York, and discuss how Hammon used Biblical imagery in his writing to question the institution of slavery.
This is a free event. Space is limited, and advance registration is recommended. For more information and to reserve free tickets visit this website.
Joseph Lloyd Manor is located at 1 Lloyd Lane in Lloyd Harbor in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County.
This event is sponsored by Preservation Long Island and the Town of Huntington African American Historic Designation Council.
Photo: Joseph Lloyd Manor garden (provided by Preservation Long Island).
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