As Hollywood heralded Steven Spielberg’s epic film Lincoln with Oscar nominations, renowned scholar, author, and historian Lerone Bennett Jr. packed the house at the DuSable Museum of African American history in Chicago with revealing, little known facts about the Emancipation Proclamation–and the aftermath.
The event, sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago, was presented in light of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, freeing slaves in the Confederate States. Slavery was not outlawed in all states until December, 1865 with the passage of the 13th Amendment.
–Photos by Zondra Hughes.
