Descendants of enslaved potter David Drake work to reclaim ancestor's art (Level 1)

David Drake was an enslaved potter in South Carolina in the early 1800s. He made large clay jars for daily use. Enslaved people were not allowed to read or write at that time, but David learned. He signed his pots and sometimes wrote short poems on them. Today, his pots are very valuable works of art. Pauline Baker and her son Yaba are descendants of David Drake. They have traced their family line back to him. They now own six of his pots. Last year, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston returned one pot to their family. This was the first time a U.S. museum returned art made by an enslaved person to the maker's descendants. The family is talking with other museums. They hope to bring all of David's pots home by 2027. For them, owning the pots is about family history and respect.