Historian shares stories for Black History Month
Historian Melissa Williams will share the story of McCloughlin Heights and Vancouver’s African American community as part of a Black History Month YouTube event from the Clark County Historical Museum.
The Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver will launch its annual speaker series with a Black History Month presentation, open for the community to view online because of continuing COVID restrictions for public gatherings.
Black historian Melissa Williams will present “A Place to Call Home: Housing and the African American Experience, post-World War II,” an event to stream live on YouTube beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4
“The history of Vancouver’s African American population is little known but a vibrant thread in the fabric of southwest Washington,” Williams said. “Learning about the struggles and gifts of the area’s first Black families prompts us to appreciate the richness of our community and to acknowledge the challenges that some have faced in finding a sense of belonging in a place.”
Williams is a 33-year resident of Vancouver who earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in public history from Washington State University Vancouver.
Tickets for Williams' presentation are $5 and free for museum members by visiting cchmuseum.org/shop. A private link will be sent prior to the show. For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679.