Oklahoma Christian University's History Speaks series continues Feb. 7
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Each year, Oklahoma Christian University's History Speaks series welcomes civil rights icons to campus to speak to sold-out crowds about the importance of love, listening and learning from others.
The private Christian university will welcome special guest Cheryl Brown Henderson for History Speaks 2022 set for Feb. 7 at 2501 W Memorial Road. Henderson is a civil rights champion and one of the three daughters of the late Rev. Oliver L. Brown, the named complainant in Brown v. Board of Education.
Rev. Brown simply wanted his daughters to have access to equal educational opportunities. His willingness to fight — all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court — would lead to the integration of public schools in America.
A direct and literal beneficiary of Brown v. Board, Henderson carries on her father’s legacy. With an extensive background in education and civic leadership, owning her own educational consulting firm and having served on several local, state and national boards, she continues the fight her father began.
Gary Jones, OC's assistant dean of students, is the visionary behind the History Speaks. Civil rights trailblazers featured at previous History Speaks events include Andrew Young, Diane Nash, Fred Gray, Claudette Colvin, Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Wheeler Parker Jr. and Carlotta Walls LaNier and Terrence Roberts, two members of the school integration champions called the "Little Rock Nine."
In 2021, Jones and a small group of OC students traveled to Selma, Alabama, to interview JoAnne Bland, co-founder and former director of the National Voting Rights Museum. Bland was one of the youngest participants of the March 7, 1965, civil rights march in Alabama on what became known as "Bloody Sunday." Jones' interview of Bland at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, was featured in a special History speaks presentation offered to the community virtually instead of in person because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The free Feb. 7 event is first-come-first-serve seating, with overflow in the conservatory. Two general admission tickets per person, one per student, will be allowed.
For group reservations (for churches, schools and other organizations), email Jones at gary.jones@oc.edu. For tickets, go to https://www.oc.edu/events/history-speaks-1?date=07-02-2022.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Christian University's History Speaks series continues Feb. 7
