Celebrating Black History Month as an Invitation to Imagine

Our Speakers share urgent stories and histories that range from the hidden messages of Negro spirituals, to Native American storytelling, and the legacies of rural music.

Karen, like her fellow Road Scholars, does something crucial when she brings history to life in the way she does: she quilts connections amongst what seem like disparate pieces: fashion, narrative, power, racism, law, identity.

Perhaps most powerfully of all, Karen asks us to use our imaginations and define beauty for ourselves.

The cultural critic (and Illinoisian) Margo Jefferson wrote, “history cannot exist without the discipline of imagination.” This is why participating in the humanities is imperative at a time when teaching about the history, contributions, and experiences of African Americans in the United States is being censored. Coming together through the humanities (continuing in the words of Jefferson), “can heighten our critical intelligence and our imaginations. It can provide ways of seeing and ordering the world – not just our world, but those worlds elsewhere that we know so little of.” Karen’s invitation for people to decide for themselves what beauty is, is not only gracious, it strengthens our civic fabric by enabling us to be creative and connected.

Our American story has been shaped, and will continue to be shaped, by the dynamic experiences and contributions of Black Americans. The need to ask ourselves fundamental questions like “What is beauty? Who decides? And where did my idea of ‘beauty’ come from, anyway?” may get much needed special attention during Black History Month, but for our state – and our society – it is really a year-round endeavor.

There are two opportunities before the month is out to hear from Karen and some of our other Road Scholars who have programs that support the commemoration of Black History Month and are available to share their work with your community.

Karen Anderson will be presenting virtually on February 24 at 7:00 p.m. and she’ll be hosting an in-person program on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 p.m. in Naperville.

Find more free, public presentations by our Road Scholar Speakers on our calendar at ILHumanities.org/events.

Hope to see you soon,
Gabrielle Lyon
Executive Director