TALK OF GREENWOOD
Dr. Jerry Goodwin
Rebecca Marks-Jimerson, a nationally recognized Chautauqua scholar, will perform as Coretta Scott King at the 2024 Lawton Chautauqua, June 18-22. Photo Provided
The Lawton Public Library is sponsoring the 2024 Lawton Chautauqua featuring nationally prominent scholars who will represent portrayals of historical characters, June 18-22. This year’s theme is “Lift Every Voice: 60 Years Since the Civil Rights Act.” All events are free and open to the public.
In addition to the evening performances from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., the library will be hosting a couple of workshops each day from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. The workshop titles are listed on the library’s website listed at the end of the article.
The theme for this year’s program is to celebrate the fight for rights and equality.
According to the Lawton Public Library, “Our nation’s benchmark civil rights legislation and one of the crowning achievements of the civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forbade segregation in public spaces and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
The 2024 Chautauqua will feature five historical characters who figured prominently in the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century, presented by highly recognized Chautauqua scholars:
The Chautauqua movement promoted adult education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The programs bring history to life with in-character and first-person portrayals through performances, workshops, and discussions. A question-and-answer session is an opportunity for the audience to engage the character and scholar.
The program will be held at the Albert Johnson Sr. Conference Center, 91 NE Maine St., in Lawton.
For more information, visit https://www.lawtonok.gov/departments/library/events/chautauqua, or call (580) 581-3450 or send an email to libraryhelp@lawtonok.gov
