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BCHS Hosts Dr. LaShawn Harris Book Talk & Reception Honoring Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s Legacy
- Damian Ali
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Cover of the book Tell Her Story with a photo of Eleanor Bumpurs, shown next to a portrait of author Dr. LaShawn Harris. Image courtesy of The Bronx County Historical Society.
The Bronx County Historical Society invites the community to a free book talk on Saturday, December 20, featuring Tell Her Story: Eleanor Bumpurs & the Police Killing That Galvanized New York City by Bronx native and historian Dr. LaShawn Harris of Michigan State University. The program will be followed by a reception honoring the birthday and legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, widely recognized as the father of Black history in the United States.
Presented in partnership with the Bronx Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the program runs from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at United Christian Baptist Church, 713 East 222nd Street, The Bronx. A light reception will follow the discussion.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson revolutionized the study of Black heritage by founding the ASALH in 1915 and launching key historical journals. His most enduring legacy began in 1926 with Negro History Week, which eventually evolved into the modern Black History Month.
Dr. Harris’s book examines the life and death of Eleanor Bumpurs, a 66-year-old Bronx resident who was killed by police in her public housing apartment in 1984 during an eviction attempt. At the time, Harris was 10 years old and living nearby, experiencing the impact of the event as a child within the community.
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Now an award-winning historian, Dr. Harris draws on eyewitness accounts, legal records, civil rights materials, and archival research to explore how Ms. Bumpurs’ death shaped community activism and public conversations around policing in New York City. The book focuses not only on the incident itself, but on how Ms. Bumpurs’ life and legacy were represented, remembered, and, in many cases, overlooked.
The discussion also reflects the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, whose work emphasized the importance of documenting Black history as an essential part of American history.
Committed to community-focused scholarship, BCHS continues to present programs that connect local history to a wider historical context. The event is open to the public, and admission is free. More information about The Bronx County Historical Society and its programming is available at bronxhistory.org.
More/Follow:
ASALH @asalhbhm
Learn More About Dr. LaShawn Harris's work
BCHS: Events and Exhibits
BCHS Instagram @bronxhistorian
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