POUGHKEEPSIE … In recognition of Black History Month, the Dutchess County Department of History is sponsoring a free virtual historical program, hosted by the Dutchess County Historical Society (DCHS), on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., focusing on the experiences of people of color in Dutchess County during the American Revolution.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “Black History Month isn’t just a chapter in history, it’s the heartbeat of the American story. This important program dives deeply into the voices that built our country, bringing untold legends into the light. Let’s learn from our past, celebrate our local and national heroes, and remember what freedom and equality mean for a brighter today.”
The program, entitled “1776 to 1876: The Long Journey of African Americans & The Elusive Promise of Equality,” will be presented by Bill Jeffway, DCHS Executive Director and member of the research committee for the Poughkeepsie-based Celebrating the African Spirit. Drawing on extensive research, Mr. Jeffway will examine the personal histories of Dutchess County men, women and children of color and their experiences within the broader context of the events surrounding the 1776 struggle for independence.
Registration for this free event is available at dchsny.org/2026-0226, and registrants will receive a Zoom link to join the event.
The presentation will explore the complex and often difficult choices faced by people of color during the Revolutionary era, including why five times as many men of color joined the British in combat roles rather than choosing the American Patriot cause. These decisions will be examined through the lens of freedom, legal status and the pursuit of equality.
The program will further trace the long and challenging efforts of local individuals and families to realize the full legal promise of equality articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Using America’s first century as a benchmark, the discussion will reflect on the significant progress achieved following the Civil War, as well as the early and enduring challenges to that promise that became evident by 1876.
County Historian William P. Tatum III, PhD. said, “This program offers an opportunity for residents to gain a deeper understanding of local history and Black Americans’ ongoing struggle to fully realize the nation’s founding ideals.”
For more information about the County’s Department of History, including the ever-expanding availability of electronic records, such as the Ancient Documents Collection, please visit dutchessny.gov/history.
For information about other Black History Month and year-round events, visit Destination Dutchess’s website, destinationdutchess.com, to check out these spotlights: “Celebrating African American History in Dutchess” and “Support Black-Owned Businesses in Dutchess.”
