A wide variety of people have called Kaskaskia, IL home, and many different social and political configurations have characterized the community over its three-century history. In “Kaskaskia and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, Part 2” we continue to explore the legacy of one of Illinois’s smallest, yet most historic, municipalities.
The documentary premiere will expand upon themes introduced in Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkx89Gfq23I) and discuss African American residents of Kaskaskia whose achievements made a national impact. These noted figures include Nance Legins-Costley, who, after multiple attempts, obtained freedom through a precedent-setting Illinois Supreme Court decision, and John Willis Menard, who became the first African American elected to Congress but was prohibited from serving.
A segment produced by guest contributors Kenita Jalivay and Chastity Mays will examine contemporary African American life in Randolph County, where Kaskaskia is located. Additionally, Part 2 will highlight efforts to sustain and promote Randolph County’s French American heritage, including the work of organizations such as Les Amis du Fort de Chartres and the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, as well as Prairie du Rocher’s annual “La Guiannée” celebration.
Kaskaskia and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union is made possible in part by a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities A More Perfect Union initiative.
Learn more and watch upcoming events at https://www.ilhumanities.org/Kaskaskia.
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