Join a historical look at 'Aurora's Early Black Community' Feb. 26

Posted February 24, 2021 10:00 pm

Submitted by City of Aurora

While Aurora's early Black community predates the Civil War, it began to grow soon after the Civil War when a several freed slaves from Union-held southern states began to arrive.

Pioneers like George Washington Palmer, who was born into slavery in Tennessee, came to Aurora while the Civil War was still raging; and Calvin T. Boger, who came from Georgia, was among the first former slaves who arrived in Aurora immediately after the Civil War.

They established careers, raised their families and laid the foundation for Aurora's Black community.

The path was not smooth. The journey was not easy. Yet, they persevered.

Learn more about Aurora's early Black community during a special "Community Conversation" - "Stony the Road We Trod" - hosted by Mayor Irvin with special guests John Jaros, Executive Director of the Aurora Historical Society, and Dennis Buck, author of From Slavery to Glory: African-Americans Come to Aurora, Illinois.

It will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, on Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/CityofAuroraIL.

This is the third of a four-part series of special Community Conversations hosted by Mayor Irvin during Black History Month.

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