‘Galveston Reads’ Announces Program
Galveston Reads, a volunteer driven “One City, One Book” organization challenges the public to read, discuss, and participate in the programs planned for this year’s selection, “The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America’s Great Migration,” by Pulitzer Prizewinning author Isabel Wilkerson. Galveston Reads Chair, Gavin Sheaffer commented, “‘The Warmth of Other Suns’ is an excellent non fiction story; the book is engaging throughout. The reader will share in the triumphs and tragedies of the subjects whose stories unfold page by page. This was one of the most memorable books that I read in 2013.” Galveston residents will be afforded the opportunity to explore 55 years of the migration of millions of African-Americans who fled the south for increased opportunity in other areas of the country by attending one or more of the programs listed in the schedule below. “The Warmth of Other Suns” tells the story of the Great Migration, the exodus of six million black Southerners out of the Jim Crow-era south to the northeast, Midwest and California during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. While the author interviewed more than 1,200 people in order to create this work, the story becomes real as told through the eyes and voices of Ida Mae Gladney, George Stirling and Robert Foster. By focusing on these three specific individuals, Wilkerson documents the conditions during the Great Depression and pre- and post-war America with a novelistic flair. Ida Mae leaves Mississippi for Chicago, escaping depression-era poverty and hardship. George Stirling flees Florida a few steps ahead of a lynch mob because of labor organizing activity and ends up in Harlem. Robert Foster, a talented physician, leaves Louisiana in favor of California in order to practice medicine free from the racial prejudices prevalent in the south at the time. Wilkerson documents the loss of their familiar community and the culture shock that all three subjects experience, but she also reveals the opportunities offered in other parts of America and gives an honest appraisal of their lives after migrating. Galveston residents will find an engaging read in this awardwinning book. The book’s honors include the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Lynton History Prize, the Heartland Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Award for Nonfiction and the Stephen Ambrose Oral History Prize. “The Warmth of Other Suns” was shortlisted for both the PenGalbraith Literary Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and additionally, was named to more than 30 Best of the Year lists. To promote the book, this year Galveston Reads will offer copies of the book free to the public beginning January 13th. Stop by the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of the library to claim a copy and please share your copy with other eager readers.
Program Schedule:
The following programs, all free and open to the public, have been arranged to engage readers with the book: Tuesday, January 14th, 5pm – Discussion Leader Training, Rosenberg Library
– why not organize one with your friends or coworkers and take advantage of this free training? A light supper will be served. Please RSVP to (409)763-8854, x118.
Stop by and join the conversation.
Tuesday, February 4th, 7:30pm – Professors’ Panel, Old Central, 2627 Ave. N
Join the regular Saturday Morning Book Club for a lively discussion and open house at the Robbie Farmer Library. Refreshments served.
Our ever popular Professors’ Panel will feature six area teachers: Dr. John Gorman, Mr. Michael Berberich, Dr. Dale Taylor, Dr. Carol Bunch-Davis, Dr. Jason Glenn and Dr. Stephen Curley, who will each offer their insights to “The Warmth of Other Suns.” This program provides a great overview and reading guide to the book. Refreshments will be served. Overflow parking will be available at the Public School Stadium. Tuesday, February 18th, 7pm – Ensemble Theatre, ETC Theatre, 2317 Mechanic
Dramatic readings from “The Warmth of Other Suns” will be presented by actors from The Ensemble Theatre of Houston. The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. Over thirty-five years later, the theatre has evolved from a touring company operating from the trunk of Mr. Hawkins’ car to being one of Houston’s finest historical cultural institutions. The Ensemble is one of the only professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience, the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest and holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house.
GalvestonIslandGuide.com
Saturday, February 1st, 12 noon – Morgan Room, Rosenberg Library
“The Warmth of Other Suns” will be the featured book for the February meeting of the Saturday Book Club. Refreshments will be served. Tuesday, February 11th, 7pm – Hitchcock Public Library. 8005 Barry Lane, Hitchcock
Join readers on the mainland for a discussion of this year’s book.
Wednesday, February 12th, 6pm Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. 502 Church St.
The Unitarian Book Club invites the public to attend their discussion of “The Warmth of Other Suns.” Refreshments will be provided. Wednesday, February 12th, 7pm - Texas A & M Galveston, Pelican Island, Room CLB 103 Building 3007
This student led discussion is open to the public so come join the conversation.
About Galveston Reads
Galveston Reads, a popular, volunteer-driven “One Community, One Book” program operating under the organizational umbrella of the Rosenberg Library, provides an opportunity for all residents high school age through senior citizens to participate in a unique Saturday, March 1st, 2:30-5:30pm– Sparky community wide discussion by reading and sharing views about the Koerner’s Jazz Express, Rosenberg Library same book. Sparky Koerner’s Jazz Express will perform music from the Now in its 11th year, the Galveston Reads series promotes 1930s, 40s and 50s, contemporaneous with the time period covered community involvement in Galveston County with a wide range of in “The Warmth of Other Suns.” Bring the family to enjoy this free events, activities and thoughtful discussions. musical performance. Refreshments will be served. Galveston Reads would like to recognize the following sponsors Thursday, March 20th, 7pm – Movie Screening: for their support and encouragement: Rosenberg Library, Friends of “Going to Chicago,” Galveston College, Student Center Rosenberg Library, The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund and Moody The documentary film, “Goin’ to Chicago” chronicles the postWar migration of millions of African Americans from the rural south Gardens. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks. For more informato the urban north, transforming America. Viewers will learn about the migration experience, its impact on the migrants themselves, the tion, please contact Gavin Sheaffer at (409)763-8854, x11. More information is available at galvestonreads.org. social transformation of northern and western cities, the origins of the northern civil rights movement and the roots of current urban decay. The film situates this experience within the larger contours of U.S. history and applies insights into problems of contemporary Saturday, January 11th - Poetry Reading at Galveston Bookshop urban life. Refreshments will be served. with Joshua Edwards and Lynn Xu will be held 2-4pm for a reading Alan Griffin, a life long movie fan, who will lead the discussion and book signing event. Joshua and Lynn are currently collaboafter the movie notes, “This film is a wonderful parallel to the book rating on an art project involving travel, writing, photography, ‘The Warmth of Other Suns.’ Seeing real life people and hearing and architecture, which will culminate in both the construction their stories is a great complement to reading other stories.” of their new home and editorial offices in Marfa, Texas, and the publication of a book to be entitled “Architecture for Travelers.” Saturday, March 29th, 2:30pm – Bernadette Pruitt, By way of initiating this multifaceted project, Joshua is walking author of “The Other Great Migration: The Movement from Galveston Island to Marfa, documenting his experiences with of Rural African Americans to Houston, 1900-1941,” Wortham Auditorium, Rosenberg Library photography and new writings as he goes. Joshua will be reading Dr. Pruitt, a professor at Sam Houston State University, will be new poems from the upcoming book as well as selections from his speaking about her book, “The Other Great Migration: The Move2013 collection “Imperial Nostalgias.” Lynn will be reading from ment of Rural African Americans to Houston, 1900-1941.” Her her 2013 book, “Debts & Lessons.” Lynn Xu was born in Shanghai, topic closely parallels the stories told in “The Warmth of Other China and earned her MFA at Brown University. Her honors include Suns” while providing a more local link to the history of migration. a Fulbright Fellowship, a William L. Magistretti Fellowship, and a Refreshments will be served. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship for her doctoral studies at the University “Dr. Bernadette Pruitt, herself a daughter of parents who migrated of California at Berkeley. Joshua Edwards was born in Galveston, to Detroit from Kentucky, has written a book that focuses primarily Texas and earned his MFA at the University of Michigan. He on migration from East Texas and Louisiana to Houston. Her book was a Wallace Stegner fellow at Stanford University. Together, is well documented and has many photos,” says Sharan Zwick, Joshua and Lynn run Canarium Books, a small press devoted to owner of the Galveston Bookshop and a Galveston Reads committee innovative lyric poetry and translations. You can learn more online member. “We are fortunate that she will be speaking at a Galveston at architecturefortravelers.org. Galveston Bookshop is located at 317 Reads program this spring on the ‘Great Migration – South to North 23rd Street, downtown, (409)750-8200, galvestonbookshop.com. and Rural to Urban.’”
Book Discussions Join Dr. John Gorman for an introduction to the themes and In addition to the programs detailed above, Galveston Reads will discussion questions offered by “The Warmth of Other Suns.” This program is open to anyone wanting to lead a discussion of the book sponsor a number of book discussions that are open to the public.
18 The Island Guide Magazine
Saturday, January 11th, 10am – Robbie Farmer Library, Moody Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St.
(409)256-5166
Events
To include your events, please contact us at:
theislandguide@gmail.com