Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids. To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfund
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One Michigan Family's Freedom Papers
The painful history of chattel slavery in the United States hasn’t left behind much of a paper trail – and what we have is vague and inhumane. The incompleteness itself of this documentation speaks volumes. Which is why Benjamin Hall’s family heirloom — a "manumission" or freedom paper – is such a big deal. Today, we’re talking about the legacy of Frank Demas, also known as Thomas Willis and the freedom paper that tells a larger history of chattel slavery in the U.S.
GUESTS:
Rachel Clark, education specialist at the Archives of Michigan
Benjamin Hall, descendant of Frank Demas, also known as Thomas Willis.
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