Black Resistance in Black History
Michelle Evans-Oliver, a descendant of Carter G. Woodson who was a founder of Black History Week, will speak on the 2023 ASALH Black History theme "Black Resistance" emphasizing African American business ownership in Virginia 1865-1910.
About Carter G. Woodson and Black History Month:
Known as "The Father of Black History", Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950) was a native African American Virginian who founded Negro History Week in 1926 to encourage the appreciation of the many contributions made by African Americans throughout history. After overcoming many obstacles Woodson became a historian and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912. In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History--ASALH) to study and promote Black American history and culture. In February 1976 President Gerald Ford proclaimed the first U.S. Black History Month, urging all Americans to "review with admiration the impressive contributions of black Americans to our national life and culture".
About Michelle Evans-Oliver:
Michelle Evans-Oliver is the President of the Our Ancestors Legacy Richmond Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
- Date:
- Saturday, April 15, 2023
- Time:
- 1:00pm - 3:30pm
- Location:
- Hull Street Meeting Room
- Categories:
- Black History Month Lectures & Talks Life & Job Skills
Meldon Jenkins-Jones is the Richmond Public Library / Community Services Manager at Hull Street Branch Library.
Meldon also chairs the Get Lit Advisory Committee which supports the Richmond Public Library Get Lit Reading Initiatives including the Black Male Emergent Readers (BMER) program and the Lit Chicks Read book clubs.
Meldon is a graduate of the Leadership Metro Richmond Class of 2022. She was the first recipient of the Virginia Library Association (VLA) Librarians of Color Forum Award in 2021 and is an active member of VLA. She presented “Libraries Bringing Community Together” at the 2023 VLA Annual Conference.
In 2011, Meldon received her Master of Library and Information Studies from Florida State University. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law—Newark and practiced law in New Jersey until her retirement in 2003. Meldon received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she studied African American Studies and Russian Civilization.
A Metro Richmond resident, Meldon is the mother of two adult children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
