Once We Were Slaves: The Extraordinary Journey of a Multiracial Jewish Family

A descendant of one of the most prominent Jewish families since the American Revolution, Blanche Moses firmly believed her maternal ancestors were members of the Sephardic elite. Laura Leibman’s new book, “Once We Were Slaves,” overturns the heiress’s assumptions to reveal that her grandmother and great-uncle began their lives poor, Christian, and enslaved in Barbados. Leibman will discuss how they transformed their lives, becoming free, wealthy, Jewish, and—at times—white, and how their story sheds light on the fluidity of race. Advance registration is required.