Good evening. Welcome to boston public librarys commonwealth salon for the presentation remembering Phillis Wheatley by barbara lewis. My names Danielle George. I have the pleasure of introducing barbara lewis. Dr. Lewis heads the William Monroe Trotter Institute for the study of african history and culture at the university of massachusetts boston. Where shes also an associate professor of english. Shes a francophone style as well as a cultural historian who has published on lynching and film, photography and drama, the minstrel stage and the black arts movement. Dr. Lewis also sought at city college, New York University and the New York University of kentucky. She currently blogs for the public humanist affiliated with the Massachusetts Foundation for the humanities and sits on the Advisory Boards of Central Square theater and the new federal theater in new york. So before dr. Lewis takes the stage, im going to ask you if you wouldnt mind turning off your cell phones. Cspan is record