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Converse Events Show Literal Connection Between Black and White Families

Submitted by: Eric Lawson on Mar 06, 2009 at 2:43 pm Tagged with: black, Converse, ETV, event, family, free, genealogy, history, PBS, roots, Shared History, white Source: Converse College

By exploring your ancestors' history, you may find that your family tree has deep and far reaching roots; roots that stretch through the common ground all of us share regardless of the racial, ethnic, religious or socio-economic differences that seem to divide us. That's the message of two free events offered in March by Converse College.

On March 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Hartness Auditorium, Converse will host a discussion led by filmmaker Felicia Furman and a screening of her acclaimed documentary "Shared History." Furman says that the film "is the intimate story of an unbroken connection of black and white families forged in slavery."

On March 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in Dalton Auditorium, Dr. Alexia Helsley, a retired historian from the S.C. Department of Archives and History and frequent leader of genealogical training sessions, will lead a genealogy workshop specifically designed for African American decedents.

Both events, which are free and open to the public, are made possible by Converse's Creative Collaboration Initiative, an internal grant program designed to promote the development of innovative thinkers and leaders who effect positive change on the Converse campus and beyond. The events are organized by the College's History and Political Science Department, and Chaplain's Office.

More info can be found here: www.converse.edu.