Conversations In Indiana African American History & Culture 5/21/2026

Join us for our monthly conversation with historians, researchers, and educators as we discuss topics related to Indiana’s Black heritage. Our speaker will be local historian Leon Bates.

Memorial Day: A History Worth Remembering

Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who died in military service, but its origins are often overlooked. The holiday began as Decoration Day, a tradition started by African Americans who decorated the graves of fallen Union soldiers—long before the nation formally recognized the practice.

Indianapolis also holds a lesser‑known chapter of Civil War history. More than 5,000 Confederate soldiers were imprisoned at Camp Morton, with about 1,600 dying and being buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Records from the National Archives reveal that 29 of those who died were of African descent, a detail rarely acknowledged.

Join us as we explore these hidden stories and reflect on the fuller history behind Memorial Day.

• In Person: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks Center and talk begins at 6:00 p.m.

• Online: Livestream will begin at 6:00 p.m.

A Zoom link will be sent 2 hours prior to the event. Check spam folder if not received.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Freetown Village