“Lillian Smith was one of the first white southern authors to speak out publicly against the evils of segregation. She was shamed, ridiculed and silenced for her beliefs. She couldn't look away. She never gave up.”
Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History hosts events during Black History Month. This year, the Athens Branch of ASALH has partnered with the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia to invite audiences to a virtual panel discussion and screening of the documentary "Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence." Smith was an author and social critic whose writings challenged white southerners to end segregation and actively fought to dismantle Jim Crow with Dr. King and other Black activists.
The documentary (2020, Dir. Hal & Henry Jacobs) will be available to registered attendees for pre-screening from February 15 - February 22, 2021: https://lilliansmithdoc.com/private-screening-ally
On February 21, 2021 at 2:00PM, join us for a panel discussion, "Lillian Smith: Anti-Racist Ally." Distinguished discussants include Patricia Bell-Scott, Professor Emerita and author of the award-winning book, "The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship-Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice" and Matthew Teutsch, Professor at Piedmont College and Director of the Lillian E. Smith Center. The session will be moderated by Barbara McCaskill and Kim Waters of Athens ASALH. Please register for the panel discussion here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pEttDmR-TIWxcT3v3ghjAA
Hargrett Library is the home to the Lillian Smith papers. For more information, please contact Patrice Green, patrice.green25@uga.edu, 706-542-8079