Kids and Kitchens: The Role of Children and Domestic Workers in the
Civil Rights Movement – Dr. Camesha Scruggs, Central Connecticut State
University.
In the 16th year of collaboration between Wilton
Library and Wilton Historical Society, the scholarly lecture series will
focus on the theme of “A Rocky Road: The Struggle for Rights in
America.” During this program, Dr. Camesha Scruggs, Professor of History
at Central Connecticut State University, will discuss the role of
children and domestic workers as change agents in the Civil Rights
Movement which in popular memory focuses on individuals such as Martin
Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. However, children are an integral part
of the movement. From participants in school desegregation efforts to
domestic workers’ contributions to local boycotts, we see their roles
are vital to advancing the cause of civil rights.
Dr. Camesha
Scruggs is a recent PhD recipient in history from the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. A native Texan, she received a BA and MA in
history from Texas Southern University. Her research fields are 20th
century US, African American Public History and Gender and Empire. She
serves on the executive boards of the Association for the Study of
African American Life and History and the National Collaborative for
Women's History Sites. She performs volunteer work for various community
preservation initiatives, bringing stories to broader audiences. Her
current project examines the lived experiences of Texas African-American
women domestic servants in the early 20th century and how interventions
from social, civic, government, and higher education institutions
impact the occupation.
The remaining lectures are as follows - please note the location of each lecture:
March 12 at Wilton Historical Society – US Women Demand Equity: From Voting Rights to Work Conditions – Dr. Aimee Loiselle
March 26 at Wilton Historical Society – The Long Road toward LGBTQ+ Rights and Equality in the United States – Dr. Kelly Marino
Reception following the talk. No charge but a $10 suggested donation is always welcomed. Click
here
to donate. This lecture sponsored in memory of Bob Kelso. The moderator
is Max Gabrielson. Registration required. Please register for each
lecture individually. To register for this session please click the Sign
Up button below or call 203-762-6334. Wilton Library, 137 Old
Ridgefield Road, Wilton. www.wiltonlibrary.org