African American Interpretive Program

The Museum's Meet the Revolution series of costumed living history programs explores the voices, viewpoints, and experiences of the diverse people of the Revolutionary era. Throughout the year, costumed living historians join the Museum as interpreters-in-residence to teach guests through hands-on demonstrations, storytelling, and conversations.

The Museum's Living History Youth Summer Institute is a six-week intensive summer course for young adults interested in interpreting the lives of people of African ancestry in the Revolutionary era. In its first two years, more than a dozen young adults between ages 14 and 21 completed the program, which focuses on primary source research to develop thematic presentations based on real-life individuals of African descent who either visited or lived in Revolutionary Philadelphia.

Accompanying our Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia special exhibition, two original 20-minute first-person theatrical performances written by playwright Marissa Kennedy dramatized the life and experiences of James Forten. Meet Young James Forten was portrayed by actor Nathan Alford-Tate and told the story of teenaged Forten joining a privateer ship to serve during the Revolutionary War. Meet Elder James Forten was portrayed by actor Steve Crum and followed a 72-year-old Forten as he reflected on the progress and challenges of his lifetime.

The Museum has built a robust network of experienced and talented public historians from across the country whose research interests and expertise focus on the lives and experiences of people of African descent during the Revolutionary era.