Hogarth's House on Black Voices in America's Founding Story

Exhibition shines a light on slaves and the struggle for independence

Erik Kirk reenactment - Liberty to Slaves

September 26, 2026

As Black History Month approaches, a new exhibition at Hogarth’s House in Chiswick is challenging traditional narratives of American independence by highlighting the often-overlooked contributions and experiences of Black people whose lives were deeply intertwined with the birth of the United States.

Titled "How We Lost America", the exhibition also marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. Rather than focusing solely on the familiar figures of the revolutionary era, it explores the stories of enslaved soldiers, women, writers and freedom-seekers whose struggles reveal the contradictions at the heart of America's founding ideals.

One of the exhibition's central themes is the contrast between the revolutionary rhetoric of liberty and the reality of slavery. While some prominent figures in the independence movement, including John Adams and John Laurens, spoke out against slavery, others such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin benefited from the institution, despite wrestling with its moral implications.

Among the figures featured is Phillis Wheatley, the pioneering poet who became the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Enslaved in America, Wheatley's literary success was made possible through her connection with Britain after American publishers rejected her work because of racial prejudice. Her arrival in London followed the landmark Somerset v Stewart ruling of 1772, which established that slavery had no basis in English common law. By publishing her poetry in 1773, Wheatley challenged contemporary assumptions about the intellectual abilities of African people and became a powerful symbol of Black achievement during the revolutionary era.

The exhibition also uncovers the stories of Peter and John King, two enslaved men owned by Benjamin Franklin. Their experiences, which included family separation, self-emancipation and the development of artistic talents, illustrate both the hardships of enslavement and the resilience of those who endured it.

Visitors will also learn about the Black Loyalists who sought freedom amid the upheaval of the American Revolution. Many ultimately forged new lives in Britain and Sierra Leone, demonstrating how the struggle for liberty extended far beyond the battlefields and political chambers usually associated with the birth of the United States.

The exhibition takes its title from Britain's perspective on the loss of the American colonies, but its broader purpose is to restore the voices of Black individuals whose actions, creativity and determination helped shape the transatlantic world. Through personal stories and historical research, it invites visitors to reconsider who is remembered in the story of American independence and who has been left out.

"How We Lost America" runs throughout October at Hogarth’s House, Chiswick, and is accompanied by a programme of talks by historians and a book launch. After its Chiswick run, the exhibition will tour to Boston Manor House in Brentford, the Surrey History Centre in Woking and Bull House in Lewes.

The exhibition is presented by Aurora Metro Arts & Media and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hogarth’s House is located on Hogarth Lane, Great West Road, W4 2QN.