Personal experiences in segregated Delaware are Nov. 14 topic
The Lewes Public Library will welcome the community at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, for a discussion about the history of segregation in Delaware as experienced by Black Delawareans who lived through those times. The talk will be held at the library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes, and online via Zoom.
The conversation, titled “The Struggle for Racial Equality: Growing up in Wilmington in Segregated Times,” will be hosted by Chanta Howard Wilkinson, Esq., a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice expert. Dr. Reba R. Hollingsworth and Dr. Richard Allen Williams will speak about their experiences living through the time in Delaware when segregation affected all aspects of life, from schools to movie theaters to public transportation and beyond.
A 1945 graduate of Delaware State College High School for Colored Students, Hollingsworth was a guidance counselor at Dover High School for 22 years. Williams founded the Association of Black Cardiologists in 1974 and served as its president for 10 years.
The discussion is part of the library’s series recognizing the 70th anniversary of the civil rights ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court ruled separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional.
“Gaining understanding and inspiration from the lived experiences of others is essential to human learning. Hearing directly from those who lived through racial life in the years prior to Brown v. Board brings a powerful and vital perspective to our series exploring this landmark ruling,” said Howard Wilkinson. “I am honored to be in conversation Drs. Hollingsworth and Williams, two inspirational Delaware visionaries, as they share their personal stories of triumph, determination and achievement.”
The discussion is the fourth in a series of community events on racial justice in Delaware co-developed by Howard Wilkinson and Ronald Collins, a legal scholar and Lewes Public Library distinguished lecturer. The series aims to educate the public about the history of desegregation through an understanding of the times, communities, challenges and aftermath.
Seating is limited, and registration is required. At registration, participants will be asked to select in-person or online attendance. To register, go to lewes.lib.de.us or call 302-645-2733.
