In a partnership that brings together a national historical perspective and Charleston community experts, World Heritage USA and The Charleston Forum on Race will collaborate for the first time to co-host a panel event at Mother Emanuel AME Church. The program, titled “Aspiring Toward a Common History,” will be held at 6 pm on July 21st and will consist of two panel discussions featuring national public figures and historians to offer perspectives on public history in the South.
World Heritage USA is a leading national organization with a global focus dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing U.S. domestic heritage with a global focus. The Charleston Forum was formed in the wake of the tragedy at Mother Emanuel in 2015 to foster open community dialogue on otherwise divisive issues involving race. It has hosted several successful events featuring discussions with leaders from diverse backgrounds and across sectors to explore the future of public history in Charleston and South Carolina.
“World Heritage USA is delighted to partner with The Charleston Forum, an organization that has been at the forefront of facilitating important conversations about the future of our past, to bring this event to the Charleston community,” said Doug Comer, President of World Heritage USA. “As we travel coast to coast with this series, we hope to reach diverse audiences to engage them in meaningful dialogue about the monuments landscape in these culturally and historically rich cities.”
The Charleston program will consist of two panels moderated by Rev. Nelson Rivers. The first panel will feature a group of historians who will discuss the historical context of public monuments. Panelists are:
- Ty Seidule – Professor Emeritus of History, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, author of Robert E. Lee and Me
- Dr. Tamara T. Butler – Executive Director, Avery Research Center; College of Charleston
- Dr. Adam Domby – Associate Professor of History, Auburn University, author of The False Cause: Fraud, Fabrication, and White Supremacy in Confederate Memory
- Dr. Felice Knight – Assistant Professor of History and Co-Director of the Truth Racial Healing and Transformation Center, The Citadel
- Michael Allen – Distinguished retired National Park ranger and former Education and Community Partnership Specialist for the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
The second panel will bring together a group of mayors from southern cities to discuss their experiences with policy and action surrounding public monuments. Panelists include:
- Mayor John Tecklenburg – Mayor of Charleston, SC
- Mayor William Bell – Former Mayor of Birmingham, AL
“We are excited to welcome this group of influential leaders and scholars to engage in open and constructive dialogue surrounding the racial and historic dynamics of public monuments,” said Brian Duffy, CEO of the Charleston Forum. “We are very grateful to World Heritage USA for partnering with our organization to broaden the reach of these important conversations. We look forward to listening and learning alongside members of our community.”
The event is free to attend, but tickets are required as space is limited. Register for tickets on Eventbrite here.
