Law, Race, and Rights in the Indian Ocean and Francophone Worlds

This project centers on an exhibition about the life of an enslaved man from the French island of Réunion and his pursuit of liberty under French and British law between 1817 and 1843. Organized with the Villèle Historical Museum in Réunion, “The Strange Story of Furcy Madeleine” will be hosted by Shannon Library July 2025-June 2026. An international conference, curator visits, and workshops for high school teachers invite UVA faculty into dialogue with scholars, educators, and community members to advance understandings of law, race, slavery, and freedom during the Age of Revolution and explore how the stories of those who have navigated those relationships are told.