This Black History Month, two events at the UGA Special Collections Libraries highlight Black voices in history and journalism.
The events include a discussion with author Michael Thurmond on his book about Georgia’s founder and a panel discussion about Black publishing in Georgia in honor of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame induction of Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the founder of The Chicago Defender.
On Thursday, Feb. 13, Thurmond will discuss his book James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia: A Founder’s Journey from Slave Trader to Abolitionist, published by the UGA Press. The book explores Oglethorpe’s relationships with Ayuba Suleiman Diallo and Olaudah Equiano, two of 18th-century England's most influential Black men, and how they influenced his philosophy on the issue of enslavement.
Thurmond, a distinguished lecturer at UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, is the author of two other historical accounts Freedom: Georgia’s Antislavery Heritage, 1733–1865 and A Story Untold: Black Men and Women in Athens History. He previously served in the Georgia legislature, as director of Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services, as Georgia labor commissioner and as superintendent of DeKalb schools, and ended his term as the county’s chief executive officer last year.
The event, which is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m., will include an introduction from James Brooks, Carl and Sally Gable Distinguished Professor of History, as well as light refreshments. This event is co-sponsored by the UGA Press, the Special Collections Libraries, and the UGA History Department.
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library will host a panel to discuss the history of Black publishing and media, its significance to Black communities, and the important role of Black reporters, editors, columnists, and correspondents in a digital world. This discussion will honor the legacy of Abbott, who was born on St. Simons Island, and is a part of UGA’s Spring 2025 Signature Lecture Series.
Panelists include Nick Chiles, writer in residence at UGA’s Grady College of Journalism, Greg Davis, vice president of Davis Broadcasting of Atlanta, and Rick Dunn Sr., former journalist, radio host, and founder of the Athens-Clarke County High School Completion Initiative. The event, scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m., will be moderated by executive members of UGA's National Association of Black Journalists.
In addition to the Hargrett Library and Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, the event is co-sponsored by the Athens chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the Digital Library of Georgia, and the UGA Press.
For more information about events and exhibits at the UGA Special Collections Libraries, visit libs.uga.edu/scl.