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Speaker explores Idaho’s historical treatment of Blacks

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Speaker explores Idahos historical treatment of Blacks

Latah County Historical Society

Joe and Lou Wells, circa 1900. Joe was born into slavery and traveled to Idaho in the late 1800’s with his wife, Lou. They operated a lodging house near present-day Deary. Joe also worked in the timber industry. Phillip Thompson, director of the Idaho Black History Museum will talk about Idaho’s historical treatment of Black people statewide tonight.

Phillip Thompson, director and board president of the Idaho Black History Museum in Boise, will present the online talk, “Black Idaho: Ahead of the Curve” at 6 p.m. Thursday on Zoom.

The talk is part of a series organized by the Latah County Historical Society in conjunction with the nationally-touring exhibit “For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights,” on display at the University of Idaho Library.

Thompson will discuss how Idaho was ahead of its time relating to the treatment of Blacks, according to a news release from the society. “This is not due to some racial awakening but solely because the Black population of Idaho has always been infinitesimally small and not seen as a ‘threat’,” Thompson said in the release.