A new exhibition opening next month at The Postal Museum will shine a light on the previously untold stories of enslaved African people who were forced to fuel Britain’s 19th century mail ships in the Caribbean.
“Voices of Resistance: Slavery and Post in the Caribbean,” running from April 5, 2025, to January 5, 2026, explores how the British postal service profited from and enabled the transatlantic slave trade while centering the experiences, resistance, and legacies of the enslaved people who powered the system.
The exhibition focuses particularly on St. Thomas (now part of the United States Virgin Islands), where enslaved people – predominantly women – were forced to carry heavy baskets of coal to fuel ships belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMSPC). In a single day, these coal workers would collectively transport as much as 800 tonnes of coal, equivalent to the weight of five cars.
“Despite the brutality of their lives, enslaved people found ways to survive, and this exhibition aims to honor their voices of resistance,” said Laura Wright, CEO of The Postal Museum. “We’re immensely grateful to our partners in London and St. Thomas who have greatly enriched our exhibition’s narrative.”
The museum has worked closely with community groups including the Caribbean Social Forum, Royal Mail Culture Bearers, and Dollar fo’ Dollar, a St. Thomas-based organization that has spent 20 years researching and commemorating the island’s coal workers.
Archival research conducted for the exhibition has uncovered previously hidden correspondence between UK plantation owners and Caribbean managers, revealing new insights into the lives of enslaved people and their acts of resistance. By reading these historical documents “against the grain,” curators have pieced together stories that were never meant to be told.
One such story focuses on the historic 1892 Coal Workers’ Strike led by Queen Coziah, a bamboula dancer, which resulted in improved wages for workers. The exhibition will also highlight the story of Mary Prince, the first known Black woman to write about her life in slavery, whose 1831 account helped shift public perceptions about the institution.
“We have worked closely with academics and community groups to give voice and representation to African Caribbean people living with the legacy of the RMSPC operation on St. Thomas,” explained Joanna Espin, Senior Curator at The Postal Museum. “We hope this new exhibition provides a new narrative for this story, encourages visitors to look at objects in different ways, and shines a light on those affected by postal operations.”
Ayesha Morris, co-founder of Dollar fo’ Dollar, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “It is a great honor to continue to celebrate the legacy of the coal workers of the Virgin Islands. We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with The Postal Museum and for the chance to give an international voice to a significant piece of Virgin Islands history.”
The exhibition features a diverse array of artifacts including postcards, letters, paintings, and clothing from both historical and contemporary sources. At its center is a specially commissioned film showing Dollar fo’ Dollar’s annual celebration honoring the coal workers of St. Thomas.
Also on display will be baskets inspired by those carried by the coal workers, made by members of the Caribbean Social Forum, and an artistic response from African, Caribbean, and Black diaspora women currently working for Royal Mail in London.
The exhibition reveals how packet ships transported goods, letters, and passengers between the UK and the Caribbean, enabling enslavers to manage plantations via the postal service, effectively distancing themselves from the direct horrors of transatlantic slavery.
“Voices of Resistance” will be accompanied by a program of activities including a family trail, storytelling, performance, dance, and crafting workshops, all designed to enhance visitors’ understanding of these historically marginalized stories.
The exhibition is included in general admission to the museum, with ticket prices ranging from £7.70 to £17.60. Tickets include one ride on Mail Rail and unlimited entry to the museum’s galleries and exhibitions for a year from the first visit. Pre-booking is recommended.
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