RACINE One of the leaders of Americas Black Holocaust Museum will be at the Racine Public Library, 75 7th St., for a pair of events during Black History Month.

Reggie Jacksons first talk will be Wednesday night about Joshua Glover, a runaway slave who sought asylum in Racine. The free event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Glover escaped from St. Louis and lived in Racine for about two years before he was captured and jailed. Jackson said his speech will focus on how local residents helped free Glover from jail and move him to Canada through the Underground Railroad.

Its really a fascinating story of how the Underground Railroad was a part of Wisconsin, Jackson said.

His Feb. 26 speech, which also begins at 6 p.m., will focus on eugenics, a practice prevalent in the late 1800s and early 1900s that sought to improve genetics, in part by sterilizing people in the bottom rungs of society.

Jackson will discuss the ramifications of that practice and laws in place at the time that still make an impact today.

Jackson is no stranger to the Racine library. He appeared multiple times last year, facilitating a movie series on civil rights and a presentation on Americas Black Holocaust Museum founder, Dr. James Cameron.

Hes planning more speeches on race later this year, he said. Jackson has gotten a great response each time and the library is eager to have him back, Librarian Nick Demske said.

Jackson regularly gives talks in Wisconsin and around the Midwest on aspects of history related to blacks. By day, hes a special education teacher in Milwaukee.

Hes been involved with Americas Black Holocaust Museum since 2002. While the museum closed in 2008, Jackson helped establish an online presence for the museum and is part of an ongoing effort to re-establish a physical presence.

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Black History Month talk to focus on story of Joshua Glover