A Slave's Story follows the work of scientists from The Wilberforce Institute of Slavery and Emancipation, W.I.S.E which is Hull-based and situated alongside Wilberforce House – the birth place of William Wilberforce. The scientists plan to document the life of one of America's most intriguing slaves.
Venture Smith is one of the few slaves who was able to buy his own freedom and went on to build a life as a successful businessman in Connecticut. Although he died 200 years ago, he left behind a narrative of his life telling of his capture as a boy in Africa, his journey across the Atlantic and his efforts to buy freedom - not just of himself but of his wife and children who were also enslaved.
BC Look North's half hour documentary follows Professor David Richardson, the director of W.I.S.E, as he tries to reconstruct the life of Venture Smith and learn more about his fascinating story. A Slave's Story, Sunday March 25th 10.15pm BBC1. | 
