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. Join us for the online premiere of “Kaskaskia and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, Part 2” as 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 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.