Blount Mansion’s annual Dr. Paul H. Bergeron Constitution Day Lecture will take place online in 2020 with speaker Stewart Harris, a constitutional law professor at Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law. With historic racial unrest in the wake of the deaths of black citizens at the hands of law enforcement, Harris will elucidate East Tennessee’s role in America’s “original sin,” exploring the ways in which African-American slavery evolved in the area from its early days as a frontier outpost of North Carolina, through the failed State of Franklin movement, the Southwest Territory years, and as Tennessee gained statehood in 1796. The program will touch on slavery at Blount Mansion during the Blount family’s years at the site. The Knoxville History Project will partner with Blount Mansion for the free online program.

Register HERE to participate in the live program and take part in the question-and-answer period. The event will be recorded and will be available on YouTube afterwards.