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OCL to Host Presentation Highlighting Local Black History

Wednesday, 24 February 2021 05:57

The Oxford County Library will host a Facebook Live presentation on Black History tonight at 7:00 p.m.

OXFORD COUNTY - Oxford County Library is hosting a Facebook Live presentation on Black History tonight called Almost Forgotten, Black History in Oxford County.

The evening will be hosted by Heather Rennalls who will speak about local landmarks, Black settlements and the courageous and vibrant people who are an important part of Oxford County's past. Rennalls explains what she hopes people will take away from the presentation.

"I think to just understand that with Oxford County, there was a rich black history here. There is a history here that is hopefully not forgotten and the Library did a video about Ingersoll and the connection to the underground railroad. I think it is important to understand that something in the past is still important." 

Rennalls first started researching black history in Oxford County after moving here in the early 90's and discovering a black cemetery in Otterville.

"I was just surprised to see a cemetery, especially in a community where not a lot of people look like me, I was surprised and that is when I started doing by research, how come there is a black cemetery in Otterville. I started doing research and ran into Mary Evans Smith, who had done a lot of work in Ingersoll, there was a large black population there in the 1800's. 

Rennalls presentation will also talk about black history in Canada, many people are not aware that Canada did have slavery. She has also been doing a blog during black history month, which you can read here.

You can tune into the presentation tonight Wednesday, February 24th on Facebook Live, starting at 7:00 pm. 

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