FLCC marks Black History Month with Underground Railroad talk

FLCC commemorates Black History Month with a free public talk on the local history of the Underground Railroad.

Finger Lakes Community College will celebrate Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 25, with a virtual talk on the Underground Railroad by two of its leading researchers.

The free public event, titled, “People of Courage, People of Hope, Seekers of Justice: The Underground Railroad Revisited,” runs from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Husband-and-wife presenters Paul and Mary Liz Stewart are co-founders of Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc.  They said they will share a “new interpretation of a very old story” and explain the various initiatives in which Underground Railroad Education Center is engaged as it works to connect the public with this local history and its relevance to modern times.

The Stewarts were named scholars in residence at Russell Sage College in 2009. They’ve received numerous citations and awards, including the Sense of Place Award from Historic Albany Foundation, the Black History Month Service and Leadership Award from the New York State Department of Health Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Award and the Community Service Award from the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region.

They have organized an annual public conference on the Underground Railroad for the past 18 years, led scores of walking tours in Albany and Troy, spoken to hundreds of groups, published numerous articles and created curriculum materials.

Additionally, the Stewarts have raised and managed over $1 million for the preservation work of The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, an award-winning Underground Railroad site on the National Register of Historic Places and the National Park Service Network to Freedom.

The talk is presented as part of FLCC’s History, Culture and Diversity speaker series organized by Robert Brown, a history professor who resides in Victor. Brown is also planning a Women’s History month talk by Leif R. HerrGesell, former director of the East Bloomfield Historical Society; planned for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10, it will also be offered virtually.

For more information, contact Robert Brown at Robert.Brown@flcc.edu or (585) 785-1307.