Stories of African American Resilience Under the Illinois Black Codes, 1819 – 1865
June 27, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Presented by Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, Dr. Caroline Kisiel and in partnership with Artspace Southern Illinois.
Although Illinois entered the Union as a free state in 1818, residents had practiced slavery and indentured servitude since the 1700s, laying the foundation for the Illinois Black Codes, enforced from 1819 to 1865. These were severely restrictive laws that controlled nearly every aspect of life for enslaved people, indentured servants, and free Blacks for nearly 50 years.
Scholar Caroline Kisiel will trace the history and share stories of African Americans whose resilience helped change the course of Illinois history.