Remember Liss, by Claire Bellerjeau and Tiffany Yecke Brooks is the true story of Liss, an enslaved Black woman in 18th century New York whose life sheds light on the experiences of people of color in New York from the colonial period and the Revolutionary War into the early republic. Her life reveals the often-overlooked history of slavery in New York and her involvement with Robert Townsend, a spy for George Washington, engages readers with fascinating stories of espionage. This text also points readers to primary documents and lesson plans through NY Archives’ online platform “Consider the Source.” Remember Liss offers a new perspective to America’s founding, from the point of view of an enslaved Black woman seeking personal liberty in a country fighting for its own.
Written by Claire Bellerjeau and Tiffany Yecke Brooks