Learning Lessons from Colorado History on Martin Luther King Day

“I think there is a history of being afraid, that’s the nativism, the reactionary attitudes, but there is also a history of progressive and forward thinking ideas and things that are far more open minded and open hearted.”

Dr. Modupe Labode is the former chief historian at the Colorado Historical Society. She is speaking on Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 18^th at 7pm at the Museum of Boulder, on Colorado history in relation to present day issues of civil, human and immigration rights.

“I would look back at the time period of 1890 to about 1930 to when Colorado’s immigrant population both from other countries as well as from other parts of the United States was growing rapidly. We had lots of nativism, fear of the foreigner, a lot of discussion about what the environment actually means. Some of that resulted eventually in things like the water compact. There was also the rise of the Klu Klux Klan and nativism against other immigrants, like German speaking immigrants.”

Dr. Labode says that Colorado has an opportunity to look back at history to inform how it deals with modern challenges, like an expanding population. “I think one of the large things is not to be afraid. Colorado – every time I come back here I am always amazed by the complexity of the people and the resources and how they’re interconnected. I think there is a history of being afraid, that’s the nativism, the reactionary attitudes, but there is also a history of progressive and forward thinking ideas and things that are far more open minded and open hearted and those are the people I would be looking back to and try to learn how they came to arrive at those ideas.”

Learning Lessons from Colorado History on Martin Luther King Day kgnu

Dr. Modupe Labode is speaking on Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 18^th at 7pm at the Museum of Boulder, on Colorado history in relation to present day issues of civil, human and immigration rights. This event is an official event for the One Action 2016: Arts + Immigration Project and is sponsored by Motus Theater, Museum of Boulder, Youth Opportunities Advisory Board and the Boulder Human Relations Commission.