SOURCES

Document A: Autobiography Excerpt
Excerpt from Venture Smith, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America. Related by Himself (C. Holt, New-London, 1798), pp. 5, 13, 25, 32.

Use this excerpt to consider the role of sources in historical stories, challenge students’ ideas about slavery, and practice close reading. This excerpt helps students see the broad contours of Smith’s life story and consider the question of authenticity in slave narratives.

Document B: Autobiography Excerpt
Excerpt from Venture Smith, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America. Related by Himself (C. Holt, New-London, 1798)

Use this excerpt to consider the role of sources in historical stories, challenge students’ ideas about slavery, and practice close reading. This (more difficult) excerpt source recounts the story told in the movie.

Document C: Gravestone, Venture Smith
Using this primary source with Document A helps students understand that it is sources like these that make it possible for us to know Smith’s story.

Document D: Maps of Colonial America
Use this map of the colonies to help students see that Smith was in the northern colonies and that slavery was not confined to the south.