More than a Color: The Marginalization of African Beauty through History

This presentation examines how women of African descent have been seen in society, art, history, and modern media. Karen J. Anderson--artist, writer, photographer, publisher, and filmmaker--will share the history of women of African descent in hopes that these communities will become less marginalize. You will learn about women of color in 1760 French America who learned how to free themselves from slavery only to be bound by draconian laws. You will meet women like Sarah Bartman, who had to choose between being a circus oddity or a slave, and women like Sarah Breedlove and Ann Malone, who changed the way women of African descent saw themselves and redefined beauty.

The program will last approximately 45 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period. This event is made possible by the Road Scholars Speak Bureau of Illinois Humanities and is free to all.