Oberlin, Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison's Legacy Amidst Rich Abolitionist History
Oberlin, Ohio, a town with a significant abolitionist history, is celebrating the legacy of Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. The town, which played a key role in the Underground Railroad, is home to one of the 36 memorials in the Bench by the Road Project, an initiative by the Toni Morrison Society to commemorate the lives of enslaved Africans. This year, Ohio is honoring Morrison's life and works as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, with events including a community read-in at Oberlin's Bench by the Road. Oberlin College, founded in 1833, was the first in the U.S. to admit Black students and award bachelor's degrees to women, reflecting its progressive roots. Today, the town remains a hub for cultural and social causes, hosting numerous concerts and events throughout the year. 
