Join the National D-Day Memorial on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at noon for the second installment of 2020’s Lunchbox Lecture series commemorating Black History Month with April Cheek-Messier, the President and CEO of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation.

All lectures are free to the public, livestreamed on Facebook, and held at the Bedford Area Welcome Center’s Community Room located at 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA. Guests are welcome to bring a lunch to enjoy during the programs.

Lecture Description:
During the course of World War II, over 600,000 African American women joined the American labor force to defeat tyranny abroad. Yet these women were mostly overlooked in the war time industry. Images of “Rosie the Riveter” have framed historical perceptions that distort the contributions of black women on the homefront by failing to acknowledge their service. In an effort to do their part for the war effort, African American women encountered racist policies, low pay, and often the most undesirable occupations. Some industries refused to hire them at all. In spite of this, African American women gained invaluable lessons and strength that would reveal itself in acts of resistance against segregation in the years to follow. During the war, African American women found a collective spirit that enabled them to challenge the future and create better life for themselves and those who would follow.

Learn more about upcoming lectures at www.dday.org/lunchbox-lecture-series.