Salem United Exhibition Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Join us Thursday, December 9th for the official exhibition opening of “Unmasking & Evolution of Negro Election Day and the Black Vote”, organized by Salem United, Inc. The reception will take place between 4-6pm. Please call us at 781-581-6200 or email us at office@lynnmuseum.org with any questions.

About the exhibit:
Through more than twenty paintings, displays, and banners, visitors will learn how the first Black voting system evolved into Salem’s 281-year-old “Black Picnic Day” celebration. Guests will learn how West African slaves pioneered Black self-governance, and how white America used voting suppression methods to constrain elections.

The exhibition’s story begins with the first Black King/Governor in Massachusetts, elected by the Black community in 1740. From there, it follows other Black New Englanders who have earned this title, and explains the relevance of their contributions.

Salem United, Inc. was founded in 2015 by three Black women: mother and daughter Lorraine and Doreen Wade, and their colleague Su Almeida. The Wades have traced their family history back to the 1600’s in Massachusetts. President Doreen Wade has taken a powerful interest in preserving the history of Black self-governance in New England. This exhibit is the fruit of her research efforts.