William A. Blair — Arlington: An African American History (Civil War America) — at Conn Ave

William A. Blair discusses the African American history of the land now occupied by Arlington National Cemetery. His book examines the enslaved people who lived and worked on the Arlington plantation before the Civil War, as well as those who escaped, built families, and died there. It also traces the creation of Freedman’s Village after the Union confiscated the Lee estate and follows the community’s role in advancing African American freedom and equality during the remainder of the nineteenth century.

Drawing on research conducted at Arlington House and on the cemetery grounds, Blair brings the experiences of Arlington’s formerly enslaved residents, their families, and their broader networks to light. Blair is Walter L. and Helen P. Ferree professor emeritus of history at Penn State University.

When: November 24, 2026

Showtime: 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Format: The event is available as a livestream, with the livestream link opening in a new window.

Tickets: Free

Seating: Seating is first come, first served.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests made up to the event start time.

Related book: Arlington: An African American History (Civil War America) by William A. Blair is available for preorder in paperback for $27.95.