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WLA/WHS Scholarly Series: A Rocky Road: The Struggle for Rights in America — Dr. Camesha Scruggs
February 5 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
In the 16th year of collaboration between Wilton Library and the 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 at Wilton Library, 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.
Scruggs is a recent Ph.D. recipient in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the author of Kids and Kitchens: The Role of Children and Domestic Workers in the Civil Rights Movement. 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 moderator is Max Gabrielson. A reception will follow the talk. There is no charge to attend, but donations are welcome. Visit the Wilton Library website for additional dates, topic and speaker details, and registration. Registration is required for each individual session.
Additional dates:
March 12: US Women Demand Equity: From Voting Rights to Work Conditions — Dr. Aimee Loiselle
March 26: The Long Road toward LGBTQ+ Rights and Equality in the United States — Dr. Kelly Marino
