Posted by Jason on Monday, May 22, 2023
In honor of the Juneteenth holiday, the Office of Equity and Human Rights and the Iowa City Public Library are hosting a virtual discussion on How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith.
The program will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023, via Zoom. Pre-registration is required. You can sign up here. For those without Zoom access, join Adult Services Librarian, Jason, in Meeting Room D.
The program will be facilitated by Abena Sankofa Imhotep, Director of Sankofa Literary and Empowerment Group of Des Moines.
A deeply researched and transporting exploration of the legacy of slavery and its imprint on centuries of American history, How the Word Is Passed illustrates how some of our country's most essential stories are hidden in plain view—whether in places we might drive by on our way to work, holidays such as Juneteenth, or entire neighborhoods like downtown Manhattan, where the brutal history of the trade in enslaved men, women, and children has been deeply imprinted. - Hachette Book Group
The Iowa City Public Library has copies of the book available for checkout in various formats and will have a limited number of paperback copies for giveaways as well. Stop by the Info Desk on the 2nd floor, call 319-356-5200, or chat/email via icpl.org/ask with any questions.
The Office of Equity and Human Rights is offering a limited number of complimentary copies of the book to persons who reside in Iowa City and who would not financially otherwise be able to participate in the book discussion. To request a copy, please email humanrights@iowa-city.org or call 319-356-5022.
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please call 319-356-5022 or humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
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About the Author
Jason is Adult Services Coordinator. He oversees reference services offered at the Info Desk, Switchboard, Digital Media Lab, Koza Family Teen Center, and Page Station. He coordinates programming opportunities for adults and teens.
Cary J. Griffith’s account of the 2007 Ham Lake fire that, over two weeks, burned 75,000 acres of woodlands in northern Minnesota and into Canada. Griffith opens with the fire raging towards an inhabited area of northwood cabins, a local Deputy tries to persuade a resourceful 76-year-old area resident to follow the mandatory evacuation. The story is told chronologically and from many points of view, Griffith introduces us to a variety of people involved in the fire and it’s plain to see that he was thorough in his search for first hand accounts. Over the following chapters Griffith introduces us to the camper whose fire started the blaze, resort and homeowners in the area, police and fire personnel, as well as scientists that detail the natural and climatic conditions that led to it burning so widely. His descriptions of the area’s natural history help to explain how this fire got out of hand so quickly. Those with a strong connection to the area that “Gunflint Burning” covers and can attest that Griffith was able to capture the sights and sounds that make canoe trips in the Boundary Waters so special. -Jason