Jupiter Hammon, early African American poet, to be celebrated at Joseph Lloyd Manor

Almost 10 years ago, the poem “An Essay on Slavery,” by the first published African American poet ,Jupiter Hammon, was discovered at an archive at Yale University.

Written in 1786, the poem had spent centuries unknown to history, as it was never published during Hammon’s lifetime — most of which he spent enslaved.

But Saturday, in honor of Hammon’s 313th birthday, the poem will be read at Joseph Lloyd Manor in Lloyd’s Neck — the very place Hammon lived as an enslaved man — for all who wish to hear.

Preservation Long Island, along with the Town of Huntington African American Historic Designation Council, will celebrate Hammon’s birthday and Black Poetry Day by hosting a free event on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.

It will include tours of the historic manor, a poetry reading by author David Mills and refreshments in the garden overlooking Lloyd Harbor.

Hammon was born into slavery on Oct. 17, 1711, at the Henry Lloyd Manor House in Lloyd Neck, and spent the majority of his life as a slave for the Lloyd family.

Andrew Tharler, education and engagement director for Preservation Long Island and organizer of the event, said not much is known about Hammon’s upbringing, but there are several theories surrounding his education.

The Lloyd family was “very active” in the Episcopal church, particularly in a movement called the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which believed in providing a religious education to enslaved people, Tharler said.

Another theory is that Hammon’s parents, Obium and Rose, who were also slaves to the Lloyd family, were literate and may have taught their son how to read and write, Tharler said.

After being enslaved by three generations of the Lloyd family, Hammon was emancipated when he was about 75. He then bought and lived in a house in Huntington until he died around 1806.

Hammon, whose image has been recorded in portraits, never married and had no children.

Tharler said little is known about how Hammon’s works came to be published. His first published work was a poem, “An Evening Thought,” circulated in 1760.

Hammon would go on to have three essays and six poems published in his lifetime — all during the time of his enslavement.

Each publication openly stated that the author was an enslaved man.

On the manuscript of the poem, “An Essay on Slavery,” the last page reads “composed by Jupiter Hammon, A Negro Man belonging to Mr. John Lloyd.”

In another work, it refers to him as a “servant of Mr. Lloyd.” At the time, “servant” was a colloquial term for an enslaved person, Tharler said. 

Melisa Chioma Emeghebo Rousseau, a Preservation Long Island board member who taught Hammon’s work at both the high school and collegiate level, said he was a “trailblazer” in not just African American history but in American history, as his work showcased “the evolution of literary expression” in America.

“He didn’t just write poems,” she said.

Hammon often used religious allegories and imagery to urge on other enslaved people.

“His legacy is pivotal in shaping discussions on race, identity and freedom, which are things that we are still working on today,” she said.

However, Tharler said while it was profound for a slave’s works to be published in that time period, let alone being open about his enslavement, Hammon himself may have censored himself in what he shared with the world.

Some scholars argue that Hammon could have been more direct when writing about emancipation, but used religious themes as a catchall.

For example, “An Essay on Slavery,” which shows his more candid opinions on slavery, was probably not published for a reason, Tharler said.

“I think that kind of tells us something about how much he was able to really express himself in his writing,” Tharler said. “There may be limitations on how freely he could speak about the conditions of being enslaved, and his true thoughts about liberty and even his enslavers.”

He also believes that Hammon may have written even more works, given that “An Essay on Slavery” was never published.

Tharler said he hopes people leave the event with greater awareness of who Hammon was and an appreciation of his thoughts, work and contributions to this country.

“I would like for people to also experience or understand some of the joy and skill and creativity that goes into an author like him expressing himself,” he said.

Event space is limited and advance registration is recommended. For more information and to reserve tickets visit preservationlongisland.org/jupiter-hammons-birthday-celebration/