Paducah is honored to host renowned historian Dr. Dennis Dickerson, who will present William Stuart Nelson: The Origins of the Nonviolence Movement in the United States on Saturday, January 11th, at 1 PM at the Clemens Fine Arts Center, WKCTC campus. Organized by the Paducah Historical Preservation Group and CommUNITY Paducah, this lecture highlights the remarkable legacy of William Stuart Nelson—a story that, until now, has largely gone untold in the very city where he spent his formative years.
Dr. Dickerson, Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt University and a leading authority on African American history, will delve into Nelson’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Nelson, who graduated from Paducah’s Lincoln High School, collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to advance nonviolent activism and interfaith unity.
In addition to the lecture, Dr. Dickerson will meet with Paducah City and McCracken County High School students, offering them a unique chance to engage with a scholar of his caliber. “Dr. Dickerson’s visit provides students with an extraordinary opportunity to connect with history and envision their own potential,” said Ruth Baggett, founder of CommUNITY Paducah.
“William Stuart Nelson’s journey from Paducah to the forefront of the global nonviolence movement is an inspiration for all generations. His story deserves to be told and celebrated,” said Rhonda McCorry of the PHPG.
This free event invites the community to honor Nelson’s legacy and benefit from Dr. Dickerson’s unparalleled expertise.
