The Dakota County Historical Society is inviting history enthusiasts to dive into a profound chapter of Minnesota's past with the upcoming presentation "It Took Courage: Eliza Winston's Quest for Freedom," a narrative centered on the daring escape and subsequent legal fight for freedom by Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman who journeyed from Mississippi. Dr. Christopher Lehman, an authority on ethnic studies and a prolific author, will helm the discussion at the Sibley Historic Site, set for 6 p.m. on November 15, according to the Dakota County Historical Society.
Those interested in attending should note the Sibley Historic Site's location at 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway in Mendota where the richness of history is set in the very stones and air completing a scene where past whispers to present, and, in the interest of securing their spot at this limited-registration event, can reach out to the site at 651-452-1596. For those leaning towards the convenience of digital means, reservations are also available through the Historical Society's website. The event pricing is announced at $20 per individual, with a gracious consideration for members of DCHS and the Minnesota Historical Society who are extended the discounted rate of $15.
The subject matter at the core of the event, Eliza Winston's legal battle, which spanned over four decades after her bid for freedom in 1860, brings forth a narrative that delves into an often-overlooked facet of Minnesota's historical tapestry. Lehman's expertise, sharpened through his academic role at St. Cloud State University and through the penning of seminal works like "Slavery's Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State," a Minnesota Book Award recipient, promises attendees an evening rich in knowledge and insight.
For those unable to attend or eager to explore further, Lehman's repertoire also includes his book "It Took Courage: Eliza Winston's Quest for Freedom," which painstakingly unearths the layers of Winston's ordeal and the legacy of slavery's imprint on Minnesota soil that still which in turn seeds our contemporary soil with the legacy of yesteryear's oppressive mechanisms. For additional details about the event and to make reservations online, please visit the Dakota County Historical Society website.
