African American Literature Discussion Group: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Dealing with Tavis

Next Tuesday May 8th we'll be meeting to discuss Tavis Smiley's autobiography, What I Know for Sure. You might enjoy hearing Tavis give his own perspective on the book in this video. If you haven't picked up a copy yet, we still have several copies at the 2nd floor; it's a quick read!

Some questions to ponder as we get ready for our discussion: how does physical or emotional abuse continue to affect a family, even years afterwards? Do you think Tavis is being completely honest in the way he presents the relationship with his parents? How do you think his life might have turned out differently if the abuse had not happened? What about the role of his religion in his life?

Thanks to everyone who has sent me their suggestions for future discussions. I plan to have the final list by our next meeting, but it is not too late to send in your requests! If your favorite does NOT get picked for this go-round, please don't feel discouraged. Some titles are simply to hard to get hold of for a large group, or too long to fit in a monthly reading cycle. But I'll try to get to as many of your suggestions as possible.

See you next Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Countdown to Silver Sparrow and Tavis Smiley

Greetings AAL fans! This coming Tuesday we'll be meeting to discuss Tayari Jones' Silver Sparrow. We have a few copies left at the Reader's Services desk, so it's not too late! As a special treat, Ms Jones has donated 10 Silver Sparrow bookplates for AAL members.

So much has been written about this wonderful novel, but I won't overwhelm you. If you have a chance before Tuesday, check out the Silver Sparrow Reading guide from Tayari's website, and give a listen to her interview on All Things Considered from last May.

Coming attractions...stay tuned for our next discussion, Tavis Smiley's What I Know For Sure. The NPR talk show host who catapulted The Covenant with Black America to number one on the New York Times bestseller list authored a searing memoir of poverty, ambition, pain, and atonement. Join us Tuesday May 8th as we discuss this honest, deeply moving self-portrait of one of America's most popular media figures.As usual copies will be held for AAL members at our Reader's Services desk, so stop by or call 847-448-8620.

Welcome to the African American Literature Discussion Group blog!

Whether you are new to our group or a long-standing participant, feel free to check here for dates and locations of our book discussions, book reviews, commentary on African American literature, library issues, author events, or merely to share a post about an issue of interest. The AAL book group meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Evanston Public Library first floor Small Meeting Room and is open to the public. A list of upcoming titles is available on the Evanston Public Library website and you may register and pick up copies of each month’s titles at the library’s second floor Reader’s Services desk.

Here's a complete list of books we've discussed!

Check us out on GoodReads too!

Till our next post, happy reading!

Sincerely,

Lesley Williams
Book Discussion Facilitator

Evanston Public Library
1703 Orrington Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 448-8620

What to Read Next...The Hanging Bridge

From guest reviewer Vaughan Jones: We all have had lessons in history in college, but being young, and never being in the Jim Crow environment, there was no real connection to the level of hate and white supremacy in the community. The book connected how the lynching and violence was used as a continuing campaign of subjugation to have a cheap and spiritually defeated labor force be brutalized for the slightest of infractions. It was like reading Theodore White's " Making of a President". It put the reader right there n Shubuta, Clark County MS. You felt like you were witnessing the barbarism and hate, at the scene. I can understand how the African Americans in Clarke County endured the environment and like the Jews of Europe, not all of them felt they had alternatives. They just had to endure. Just unbelievable. The book is completely readable for all levels and not making it as A. Bartlett Giamatti once called academic writing, "High Institutional". The focus was on the 2 separate lynchings of 6 young black residents (4 in 1918 and 2 in 1942), and how Clark County's continued to resist to any form of change. But your highlighting the work of Walter White and the early NAACP took so much courage, very few people understand the risks those people took in getting the story on the lynchings across the South. You also highlighted the real genocidal acts taking place outside of Mississippi in other areas, an example was the outright murder of the Black farmers in Arkansas. In a lot of ways, the US is not unlike other countries like Germany who want only to either brush over the barbarism and crimes. In the writing of "The Hanging Bridge, Prof. Ward transitioned and highlighted the work of the African Americans, who were able to get Early Childhood Care, through Head Start and the efforts of the county political leadership to manipulate and hinder any efforts to have any political or economic independence. This book would be a great addition to the curriculum of Evanston Township High School and surrounding high schools for the students to have the insight on why the language of demagogues is so dangerous. It is not unlike a virus that infects a population with the results being mob actions and murders.

African American Literature Discussion Group

Monday, April 30, 2012

Dealing with Tavis

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Countdown to Silver Sparrow and Tavis Smiley

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