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Easton committee plans talks on local Black history, to invite Rhode Island historian and local speaker
Summary
The committee discussed hosting historian Keith Stokes to speak about Little Liberia and free Black Americans in Easton, possibly co‑sponsoring with local historical societies and scheduling daytime school programming plus an evening talk; the committee would pay a requested $350 honorarium from its fundraising account.
At the Feb. 18 special meeting, the Easton Cemetery Committee discussed programming for 2026 to raise awareness of local Black history. Members reported that Keith Stokes, a historian from Rhode Island who studies Little Liberia in Bridgeport and free Black Americans in the Revolutionary era, has offered to travel to Connecticut to speak; he requested a $350 donation to cover his appearance.
Committee members suggested co-sponsoring the event with the Easton Historical Society and the Fairfield Historical Society and offering a daytime presentation for students alongside an evening talk for adults. The committee agreed the speaker fee would come from the fundraising account.
Separately, members proposed that Frank Pagliaro deliver a talk about Den Cemetery, identified in the minutes as a historically mixed Black-and-white cemetery. Elizabeth Boyce provided additional updates on the historical society's upcoming events during the meeting.
Next steps identified by the committee include confirming dates, co-sponsor arrangements, and payment from the fundraising account before finalizing event announcements.
