“Frederick Douglass is my specialty,” she notes. Her dissertation at Howard University was titled “Frederick Douglass and the Making of American Exceptionalism,” and a chunk of her career has focused on his life and work. Trent imagines Douglass would be pleased to know that MAAH is continuing the dialogue and engagement that he thought would never have evolved. “He would be surprised to see the number of people on Nantucket and the August rush,” she says.
“I want to amplify the stories of the thriving Black community that people don’t necessarily associate with Nantucket. We have a Black history that runs as deep as our country’s founding.”
The 42-year-old accomplished public historian arrived on the island with a zest for 19th-century American history and sees a great opportunity to unearth stories to trumpet on regional and national levels. She plans to tell the stories, not just of famous people, but of everyday people and how they lived. She also plans to peel back the pages of history for museum visitors to learn things like what toys children played with and what music people listened to, as well as how they discussed things like the American Revolution, the Fugitive Slave Act and self-emancipation. “I will show up authentically and hope to be a meaningful member of the community,” Trent says.