Fighting Slavery in Early America (Best of OLLI)

Fighting Slavery in Early America (Best of OLLI)

Richard Bell
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM (PT)
Price: $75.00
48 slots available
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Ancient shackles

This class presents a large and often unfamiliar cast of characters — both Black and white, enslaved and free — who developed a range of tools and tactics, means and methods to escape slavery or try to resist it in the period between the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787 and 1865, the year that marked the end of the Civil War.

Faculty Bio

Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize.

This is a Best of OLLI Course

  • Best of OLLI subscription courses are popular courses recorded a previous term
  • Videos are available the moment you sign up through May 31 in Member Dashboards. Learn more.
  • Accessible to Annual Plus, Premium Plus, Best of OLLI and Fee Assistance members. Learn about membership.
  • Current Annual and Premium members can upgrade to Annual Plus or Premium Plus for an additional $10

Member Praise for Richard Bell

What a wonderful class and brilliant instructor! I loved Rick’s style of presentation = intense and dramatic. I’m so impressed with my fellow OLLIians = smart, informed, engaged. Everything worked for me.

​​Amazing content. Amazing delivery.

After the first ten minutes of the first class, I turned to my husband, who had also signed up for the class, and said, "He is terrific!"

Faculty Q&A