In ancient Rome, gladiators built mutual aid networks called collegia. Slaves and prisoners facing almost certain death in the arena organized burial associations to support fallen comrades. They collected dues from their earnings to secure proper burials and memorial markers. Inscriptions from across the empire confirm that survivors honored their peers by name. This early form of life insurance sometimes provided support for widows and children, reflecting the enduring need for dignity and com

Join me on Sol Legare Island, South Carolina, for a visit to the historic Seashore Farmers Lodge with curator and preservationist Earnest Parks. Once a mutual-aid hub for Black farmers and fishermen, the lodge helped neighbors pool resources, care for the sick, and preserve Gullah lifeways, from language to faith and community. Earnest shares how local stewardship brought this building back to life and why protecting native Gullah culture matters now more than ever. Check out the full video on m

2K views · 11 reactions | Secret societies in Singapore were a form of mutual aid for our Chinese migrants in the 19th century. Today, we’ll take a look at what it took to get into one.   Get a closer look via roots.gov.sg and the National Museum’s Singapore History Gallery! Visit the gallery before its closure on 17 November 2025, with its last day on 16 November 2025. #SingaporeHistoryGallery #VisitSingapore #History #Museum | National Museum of Singapore | Facebook