Connecticut, Color, and the Fight for Freedom

Description

Join historian John Mills for his engaging and thought-provoking lecture, Connecticut, Color, and the Fight for Freedom.

While many Black men served during the Revolutionary War, the Militia Act of 1792 made it illegal for Black men to enlist in state militias. This exclusion remained in place until the Militia Act of 1862, which opened the door to Black enlistment and led to the formation of Connecticut’s 29th and 30th Colored Regiments during the Civil War. In this presentation,  Mills explores the often-overlooked events and social conditions that shaped attitudes in Connecticut from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War.

About the Lecturer

John Mills is the founder of the Alex Breanne Corporation, an organization dedicated to fostering social clarity and historical context around the African American experience. Through research, critical inquiry, and public presentation, the organization highlights lesser-known stories of enslavement and resistance, told from an African American perspective.

This program is sponsored by the Groton Public Library's Circle of Friends.