(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA – February 12, 2024)—Paul D. Best, a storyteller, writer and educator, will present an engaging lecture on the importance of the oral tradition in Black families and how local Black history speaks to the history of America on Monday, Feb. 26. The lecture, “‘Get in the House’: Returning the Oral Tradition to the Black Home,” will be offered virtually via Zoom at 11 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m as part of Delaware County Community College’s “Dialogues for Diversity” series of discussions. 

Best is a resident storyteller at Penn Museum and director of Oral History Projects at the Independence Seaport Museum. He is currently spearheading a new multi-year project at the latter called “Breaking Uncommon Ground on the Delaware River,” which he will introduce to attendees of the lecture. The project is an innovative oral history project that collects the personal stories of Black Philadelphians who worked or lived along the Delaware River waterfront. 

“‘Get in the House’: Returning the Oral Tradition to the Black Home” is the latest in the “Dialogues for Diversity” series of discussions, which are free and open to the public. Register here for the 11 a.m. event and here for the 6:30 p.m. event, or visit the center’s web page at dccc.edu/center-equity-social-justice.  

Since 2020, Delaware County Community College’s Center for Equity and Social Justice has hosted an ongoing series of Dialogues for Diversity discussions and events with rotating topics and formats. The Center provides opportunities for meaningful dialogue that creates awareness, promotes education and leads to transformative change, equity and social justice for all people. 
 

PHOTO CAPTION: On Feb. 26, storyteller, writer and educator Paul D. Best will present a free online lecture on the importance of the oral tradition in Black families as part of Delaware County Community College’s “Dialogues for Diversity” series.