EAST LYME MURAL
LOCATION: East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Rd, Niantic, CT 06357
ARTIST: Emida Roller & Samson Tonton
(design by Jason Deeble)
CREATION DATE: 2022
The East Lyme Sister Mural Project was created on three large panels and installed in the East Lyme Community Center. The mural features David Ruggles, who was born near Lyme, CT, and from Norwich, CT. Ruggles was the first Black man to own a bookstore in the U.S. and was actively involved in the Underground Railroad.
David Ruggles was a pioneering African American abolitionist, writer, and advocate for the rights of Black people in 19th-century America. Born free in 1810 in Connecticut, Ruggles moved to New York City in the 1830s, where he quickly became a leader in the fight against slavery and injustice. He is best known for operating a station on the Underground Railroad and helping countless enslaved people, including Frederick Douglass, escape to freedom. Through his bold activism, he faced constant threats from pro-slavery forces but remained steadfast in his commitment to abolition.
In addition to his work on the Underground Railroad, Ruggles was a vocal advocate for Black education and healthcare. He opened the first African American-owned bookstore in New York and published numerous pamphlets and articles exposing the horrors of slavery. Ruggles also founded the New York Committee of Vigilance, an organization dedicated to protecting free Black citizens from being kidnapped and sold into slavery. His leadership in the abolitionist movement made him a target, and his bookstore was destroyed multiple times, yet he persevered, continuing to fight for justice.
Despite suffering from poor health later in life, Ruggles remained an influential figure until his death in 1849. His dedication to freedom and equality laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements and left a lasting impact on American history. Today, David Ruggles is remembered as a fearless abolitionist who played a crucial role in the fight against slavery, helping to secure the freedom of many and paving the way for a more just society.