Join us on Friday, February 20 as we celebrate Black History Month with a presentation by Dr. Bennett Parten based on his highly acclaimed book, Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman’s March and the Story of America’s Largest Emancipation.

In the fall of 1864, Gen. William T. Sherman led his army through Atlanta, blazing a path of destruction as they headed east across the state to Savannah.  While the army marched through town after Confederate town, plantation owners fled…  But even before they did so, slaves self-emancipated by physically joining the Union lines.  By the time the army seized Savannah in December, as many as 20,000 enslaved people had attached themselves to Sherman’s army in the expectation that the company would help free them.

Dr. Parten’s book is a new, breakthrough account that reframes Sherman’s March as the largest liberation event in American history.  His compelling narrative is the first to focus on the myriad stories of the enslaved individuals who self-emancipated.  It’s a journey told through the lens of resilience, hope, and the beginning sparks of Reconstruction.

Dr. Parten is an associate professor of history at Georgia Southern University.  He Is a native of Royston, GA, and currently lives in Savannah.  He completed his PhD in history at Yale University in 2022. 

Those who are unable to attend this engagement in person are invited to tune in to the lecture and Q&A session via Zoom.  Click on the following link:. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84447334930.   No password in required.  To dial in by phone, call 1-301-715-8592 or click on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/84447334930/invitations?signature=xKXmmuGVfytjcBk1udpivk3tpp_Ipq77vYoq51sukGQ.  The meeting ID # is 844 4733 4930.  Zoom participants should join the meeting by 7:00 pm.

To reserve your spot for dinner, please pay using PayPal or credit card below. Reservations are due by noon on the day of the meeting.