The Bonds of Family and Legacy

Presented by the Senator John Heinz History Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, this virtual program will explore the Black family, a topic of study in many disciplines, including history, literature, the visual arts, social policy, and the culture of the culinary arts.

The Black family knows no single location, since family reunions and genetic-ancestry searches testify to the spread of family members across states, nations, and continents. While the role of the Black family has been described by some as a microcosm of the entire race, its complexity as the “foundation” of African American life and history can be seen in numerous debates over how to represent its meaning from a historical perspective. The family offers a rich tapestry of images for exploring the African American realities of the past and present.

The discussion will include Christin Haynes, founder of Black Family Scholar; Dr. Jessica Harris, award-winning journalist and African Diaspora foodways expert; and Dr. Eric Jackson, Professor of History and Director of Black World Studies at Northern Kentucky University.