Virtual lecture series shares unnoticed stories of Hamilton's Black communities

A four-part virtual lecture series hosted by Kojo Damptey will livestream on Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 to highlight lesser-known Black histories and contributions in Hamilton.

Kojo Damptey, a sessional instructor at McMaster University, is hosting a four-part virtual lecture series called "Unnoticed Histories of Black Communities in Hamilton." The talks are scheduled for Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26, each from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and will be livestreamed. The series focuses on lesser-known local Black histories, contributions and struggles that Damptey says are often absent from curricula and place names. Slides will be made available to the public and each talk will be uploaded to YouTube after it is delivered. Key details: - Host: Kojo Damptey, sessional instructor at McMaster University. - Format and schedule: Four livestreamed talks on Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. - Platforms: Livestreams will be available on YouTube and other online platforms. - Guests: Appearances include Mara Benjamin (Griffin House National Historic Site) and Daunte Hillen (Indigenous student trustee on the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board). - Topics and examples: Histories to be discussed include the Concession Street area once known as "Little Africa," lesser-known local figures such as Paola Brown, Enerals Griffin, John Burns, Thomas Morton and Julia Washington Berry, and a Black regiment tied to Sir Allan MacNab. - Access: The series is free to view and slides will be shared for public and educational use. Summary: The series aims to bring attention to overlooked Black presences and contributions in Hamilton that Damptey says are often not acknowledged in local place names or textbooks. Each talk will be livestreamed on the scheduled dates and uploaded to YouTube afterward, with slides provided for public use, offering a resource intended to support further local learning and research.