Join us for a special evening with local author and educator Chris Dier as he discusses his book The 1868 St. Bernard Parish Massacre: Blood in the Cane Fields. He will give an overview of relevant St. Bernard Parish history, trace the horrific events that surrounded the presidential election of 1868, and explore its causes and aftermath. “Days before the tumultuous presidential election of 1868, St. Bernard Parish descended into chaos. As African American men gained the right to vote, white Democrats of the parish feared losing their majority. Armed groups mobilized to suppress these recently emancipated voters in the hopes of regaining a way of life turned upside down by the Civil War and Reconstruction. Freedpeople were dragged from their homes and murdered in cold blood. Many fled to the cane fields to hide from their attackers. The reported number of those killed varies from 35 to 135. The tragedy was hidden, but implications reverberated throughout the South and lingered for generations. Author and historian Chris Dier reveals the horrifying true story behind the St. Bernard Parish Massacre.” About the Speaker: Dier is currently a history teacher at Chalmette High School in his hometown of St. Bernard Parish. He graduated from East Texas Baptist University with a bachelor's degree in history. Dier also holds two education-related master's degrees from the University of New Orleans.