History is set to come alive Friday and Saturday as Millie Lee Dulaney of Wilcox County hosts a series of workshops at the Hampton Inn off Highland Avenue.

Dulaney, a crusader for civil rights, has been hosting workshops for several years throughout the state in an effort to bring people closer to their heritage. Understanding our history, Dulaney said, is key to moving forward in our future.

“By having these workshops, we bring the history of the people of the Black Belt alive,” Dulaney explained.

Friday beginning at 2 p.m., Dulaney will teach guests how to make family history quilts. Then, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., issues of forgiveness and family will be discussed. A descendent of civil war soldiers, Dulaney said it’s important to remember her past — both the good and the bad.

“My great-great grandfather was one of the rebuilders after the war,” she said. “A lot of people say the Civil War was all about slavery, but I don’t believe that. There was a unity that came together that nobody really acknowledges or talks about.”

Dulaney will host a special civil rights discussion Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the hotel. A panel discussion will follow from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a guest speaker closing the workshop.

Although the Civil War was more than a century ago, Dulaney said she believes there are still wounds that need to be healed from its aftermath. Also, she said it’s important that young people get involved, as they are the generation that will pave the way for a bright future.

“It’s the young people who are going to carry us into unity and change the world,” she said. “I want to bring hope and courage and let people know that they too can make a difference and you must become accountable for your nation.”

For more information on the workshops, call (334) 876-9995.