‘A Dream Deferred’: Issues and Answers from 1968 Wilmington Riots

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

7:30 PM in the Lower Gild Hall

The current violent crime epidemic in the City of Wilmington is not the first time Wilmington has seen major issues in the city’s minority community.  In 1968, following the assassination of Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Wilmington experienced riots and occupation by the National Guard.  This major event in our community’s history is captured in the 2007 documentary, ‘A Dream Deferred,’ which presents a social, historical and cultural view of the conditions and events leading up to the 1968 riots.  Following the viewing of ‘A Dream Deferred’, James Newton, University of Delaware professor emeritus, will lead our discussion of the issues that lead to the riots, and to a great extent, continue to be issues today.

Professor James E. Newton served on the faculty of the University of Delaware for 33 years.  Besides his teaching duties, Dr. Newton directed what is now the Department of Black American Studies, acted as chair of the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity and served as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Delaware State Advisory Committee.  In 2012, Dr. Newton was the recipient of the James H. Gilliam Sr. Chairman’s Award by the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. The award recognizes pioneers for outstanding contributions and leadership in the fight for civil rights and a more equal and inclusive America.

Join the Arden Scholars Gild for our March 17 discussion at 7:30 PM in the Lower Gild Hall.

This discussion is sponsored by the Delaware Humanities Forum.  Visit www.dehumanities.org to learn more.