The History of African Americans in Santa Clara County

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Local historian Jan Batiste Adkins will explore the history of African Americans in Santa Clara County from 1780 to present day in a Zoom event.

Through photographs and untold stories of African American pioneers of the local region, Adkins will present research from her latest book, “African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County,” followed by a Q & A session. In honor of Black History Month, this program commemorates the contributions of black visionaries in the Bay Area who established viable communities, churches, businesses, and schools.

Adkins will discuss these early pioneers, what it meant for families brought as slaves to what was considered the free state of California; the creation of black schools and how they became desegregated; the importance of the black church even to the present day; the abolitionist movement in San Jose; and issues that blacks encountered in education, technology and government.

Jan Batiste Adkins is also the author of “African Americans in San Francisco” and “African Americans of Monterey County,” published by Arcadia Publishing Company.

To purchase the book, “Images of America: African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County” by Jan Batiste Adkins, please visit our online store at https://bit.ly/3a947Fj.

The program is free to attend. Register to receive the Zoom link.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.