5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, via Zoom.

The important contributions of Africa to Western society are often overlooked, if not deliberately obliterated in modern history, according to educator, journalist and author Howard W. French. French will discuss his new book, “Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War,” with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede during a History Book Festival virtual event. A question-and-answer session will follow the authors' discussion.

The program is free, but preregistration is required. To reserve a spot, go to www.historybookfestival.org .