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Lewes Historical Speaker Series to feature Journey to Freedom Feb. 16

February 12, 2018

The Lewes Historical Society Speaker Series will present Journey to Freedom featuring Dr. Angela Winand at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes. Admission is free and no reservations are required.

Winand will discuss the exhibit Journey to Freedom at the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage at the Delaware History Museum. The exhibit tells the history of African-Americans in Delaware, presented in two sections, Pursuit of Freedom and Beyond Bondage: Breaking Down Barriers.

The first section explores African-American presence in Delaware from its colonial beginnings through the periods of the American Revolution and Civil War. This exhibit also explores the ways in which enslaved men and women resisted their treatment and sought their freedom, as well as the contributions of Delawareans to the abolitionist movement, and Wilmington's role in the Underground Railroad.

The second section presents the Emancipation Proclamation and Reconstruction period, the enforcement of Jim Crow laws, the role of black schools in the local community, the challenge to segregation begun in Delaware with the Bulah and Belton cases and culminating in the Brown decision, and the impact of black leadership during the civil rights movement and afterward. Using historical items that have been donated to the Delaware Historical Society's collections, the exhibition also includes the role of Delaware in the founding of independent black churches and a variety of black community and social organizations.

Winand is head of the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage and Diversity Programming at the Delaware Historical Society. She works with her colleagues in education to create engaging experiences for school groups and visitors of all ages at the Delaware History Museum. Prior to joining the DHS staff, Winand created educational programs at George Washington's Mount Vernon and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Before starting a new career as a museum professional, she spent 20 years teaching courses in African-American history and culture at the college level. She holds a PhD in American Culture from the University of Michigan, and is a recent graduate of the museum studies masters program at Johns Hopkins University.

Each month between September and May, the Lewes Historical Society offers educational and entertaining programs that explore the history of Lewes, the surrounding area, Lewes' unique interaction in the national scene, and other related and appealing topics. All these meetings are open to all members, residents and visitors of the Lewes community. For more information and a complete schedule, call 302-645-7670 or go to www.HistoricLewes.org.

 

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