​The year 2019 marked 400 years since the first documented arrival of Africans in the United States—an important, tragic milestone in our nation’s shared history.

In alignment with a national agenda to recognize the significance of this anniversary, Washington University in St. Louis hosted The 400 Years Plus trilogy, a three-part series that explored the various aspects of the Black experience from historical and current perspectives through speakers, performers, and special guests. The events were held in conjunction with the University Libraries’ Mary Curtis Horowtiz Lecture for Civic Engagement and Social Policy.

This trilogy was made possible with the visionary leadership of Jack Kirkland, associate professor at the Brown School and co-founder of Black Studies at Washington University. Kirkland is an internationally known scholar who studies and lectures on the African American family and social and economic development. Read an in-depth article and view the recordings.