Freedom Was in Sight: A Graphic History of Reconstruction in the Washington, D.C., Region
7pm Byrd Center Auditorium

The Reconstruction era was born from the tumult and violence of the Civil War and delivered the most powerful changes the United States had seen since its founding. Black Americans in Washington, D.C., and its surrounding region were at the heart of these transformations, bravely working to reunite their families, build their communities, and claim rights long denied them. Meanwhile, in the capital, government leaders struggled to reunite and remake the nation. Famous individuals such as Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells played central roles, as did lesser-known figures like Emma Brown, the first African American teacher in Washington's public schools, and lawyer-journalist William Calvin Chase, longtime editor of the Washington Bee. Freedom Was in Sight! draws on the words and experiences of people who lived during Reconstruction, powerfully narrating how the impacts of emancipation and civil war rippled outward for decades. Vividly drawn by award-winning graphic artist Liz Clarke and written by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Kate Masur, a leading historian of Reconstruction, this rich graphic history reveals the hopes and betrayals of a critical period in American history.

Event Highlights:
  1. Author Talk: Kate Masur will share her experiences and the stories behind her writing.
  2. Q&A Session: Engage with Kate during an interactive Q&A session.
  3. Book Signing: Have your copy of Freedom Was in Sight: A Graphic History of Reconstruction in the Washington, D.C., Region (A Ferris and Ferris Book) signed by Kate Masur, and take the opportunity to connect with her personally.
This event is brought to you in partnership with Four Seasons Books and the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War.

To reserve free tickets or purchase a book in advance click here.
Contributor Bio: Kate Masur is Board of Visitors Professor of History at Northwestern University and author, most recently, of Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction.

Contributor Bio: Liz Clarke lives in Cape Town, South Africa, where she works as an illustrator. Her work is featured in many graphic histories, including Witness to the Age of Revolution (with Charles F. Walker) and Abina and the Important Men (with Trevor R. Getz).