“The books are flying off the shelf,” is the way a librarian at the Capital Area District Library, in Lansing, described the interest in this year’s Great Michigan Read selection, “The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age.” And that was before nearly 500,000 special newspaper inserts hit the newstands around the state this week.
While Great Michigan Read special programming for "Arc of Justice" continues through June 2012, much of the buzz right now is with the upcoming six-city author tour that takes place during the last week of October, along with a traveling exhibit that will visit nine communities starting Oct. 4 in Flint.
The community partner list continues to grow as well, now topping 160, along with retail partners Meijer, Barnes & Noble, Schuler Books & Music, and Snowbound Books. All of the partners have done a tremendous job of bringing"Arc of Justice" into its community by hosting supporting programs.
Now is the time to check the Council Happenings or Great Michigan Read calendar of events to learn what type of programs are planned for your community and plan to attend. These events, for the most part, are free and open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the significant interest in this year’s book selection, please plan to come early to make sure you get a seat.
The Council also received 2,000 special Great Michigan Read commemorative editions of “Arc of Justice.” These are marked with the program logo and include discussion questions, Q & A with the author, and information on the Great Michigan Read. In late September, the Council mailed these books to community partners who applied for book kits.
We still have books in stock for community libraries, schools and other non-profits interested in applying for book kits, but they are moving quickly. Along with up to 30 copies of the book, the kits include reader’s guides, teacher’s guides, bookmarks and a window decal. While all Michigan non-profit organizations are eligible to become Great Michigan Read partners at no cost, they are expected to provide supportive programming as community hosts. That can include guest speakers, tours, community conversations or book discussions, local exhibits and more.
Don't Miss Arc of Justice Author Tour
Not only is “Arc of Justice” a fascinating and compelling read, the author, Kevin Boyle, is an excellent speaker who knows how to engage and hold his audiences’ attention. From Oct. 22-27, Boyle will travel Michigan for the author tour, with events planned for Alpena, Marquette, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and Detroit. While in these cities, he will also visit area schools and participate in interviews with local media outlets.
Each stop on the tour will include a presentation by Boyle, followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. Boyle, a Detroit native and professor of history at Ohio State University, will provide an in-depth look into “Arc of Justice.” These events are free and open to the public.
“Peter White Public Library is thrilled to be chosen as an author tour host site,” said Cathy Sullivan Seblonka, youth services librarian at Peter White library in Marquette. “We appreciate bringing a part of Michigan history to Marquette. And we are excited about being a part of a statewide discussion about racism and its effects on housing, economics, society, public policy, politics, and religion in our past and, sadly, its present.”
Marquette's local activities highlighting "Arc of Justice" include a presentation by a couple who've worked toward civil rights throughout their lives, an exploration of early jazz with live music, a discussion on Southern Baptist Church's committment to battle racism, and the showing of the 2010 PBS documentary, "Freedom Riders."
If you are interested in bringing a large group of students or patrons to one of these events, please contact the Council at (517) 372-7770 or gparker@mihumanities.org.
We Don’t Want Them Exhibit Sites Announced
The Council is proud to announce hosts for We Don’t Want Them, a Great Michigan Read traveling exhibit produced in partnership with Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.
The exhibit will stop in nine Michigan cities, stretching from October 2011 to June 2012. Sites include Greater Flint Arts Council / Flint Transit Authority (downtown Flint transfer station), Three Rivers Public Library (Three Rivers), Davenport University (Grand Rapids), Peter White Public Library (Marquette), Detroit Science Center (Detroit), Interlochen / Traverse Area District Library / Dennos Museum Center (Traverse City), Castle Museum of Saginaw History / Saginaw News (Saginaw), Old Mill Museum (Dundee), and Artworks (Big Rapids).
“The idea behind the exhibit tour was to encourage communities in other parts of the state to explore their housing histories,” said Greg Parker, program officer for the Council. “The diversity of host communities – both urban and rural – will bring unique perspectives to that discussion.”
Through reproductions of historic documents and photographs, viewers will understand the causes and effects of residential segregation. We Don’t Want Them places “Arc of Justice” in a broader context of policies and practices that limited where some could live, thus impacting their past and present quality of life. This exhibit acts as a powerful backdrop for local dialogue on issues of difference, discrimination and immigration. This exhibit prominently features the Sweet trials discussed in “Arc of Justice.”
“The Mass Transportation Authority and Greater Flint Arts Council demonstrate our commitment to civil rights for all Americans in this dynamic partnership which has culminated in the installation of 19 major works of art in the MTA downtown transfer station,” said Greg Fiedler, president and CEO of the Greater Flint Arts Council. “The exhibition, We Don’t Want Them, provided by the Michigan Humanities Council is a great addition to this month’s grand opening of this facility.”
The downtown transfer station is located at 615 Harrison St. in Flint, and will feature the exhibit throughout October.
Peter White Public Library was also chosen to host this exhibit, something the staff and community have great excitement for.
"We are very pleased that ('Arc of Justice') discussion will continue into January when we host the traveling exhibit, We Don't Want Them, and an extensive panel discussion about a wide variety of housing issues in Marquette," Sullivan Seblonka said. "This book has brought needed attention to issues of discrimination that hurt everyone."
Stay up to date on the Great Michigan Read and all of the upcoming events by bookmarking the Great Michigan Read website.
About the Great Michigan Read
The Great Michigan Read is a free statewide humanities initiative inviting Michiganians to read and participate in book discussions and events in their hometowns. Intended for young adults to senior citizens, the Great Michigan Read aims to make literature more accessible and appealing, while also encouraging residents to learn more about their state.
This year’s book is “Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age.” Written by Detroit native Kevin Boyle, “Arc of Justice” tells the story of African American physician Ossian Sweet and the chain of events that occurred after he purchased a home for his family in an all-white Detroit neighborhood in 1925. The book won the 2004 National Book Award for nonfiction, was named a 2005 Michigan Notable Book, and was selected for the Great Michigan Read by a group of nearly 50 librarians, teachers, students, professors, authors and more from across the state.
With questions on how your organization can become a part of the Great Michigan read, call the Michigan Humanities Council at (517) 372-7770 or contact gparker@mihumanities.org. RETURN TO FRONT PAGE |
We Don’t Want Them
Exhibit Schedule
2011
October – Greater Flint Arts Council / Mass Transportation Authority (displayed at the downtown Flint transfer station)
November – Three Rivers Public Library (Three Rivers)
December – Davenport University (Grand Rapids)
2012
January – Peter White Public Library (Marquette)
February – Detroit Science Center (Detroit)
March – Interlochen / Traverse Area District Library / Dennos Museum Center (Traverse City)
April – Castle Museum of Saginaw History / Saginaw News (Saginaw)
May – Old Mill Museum (Dundee)
June – Artworks (Big Rapids)
Author Tour Event
Schedule
Alpena County Library
Oct. 22 @ 2 p.m.
Ph. (989) 356-6188 www.alpenalibrary.org
211 N. 1st Street, Alpena
Peter White Public Library
Oct. 23 @ 2 p.m.
Ph. (906) 226-1783
www.uproc.lib.mi.us
217 North Front Street, Marquette
Grand Rapids Public Library
Oct. 24 @ 7 p.m.
Ph. (616) 988-5400
www.grpl.org
111 Library NE, Grand Rapids
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Oct. 25 @ 6 p.m.
Ph. (517) 367-6348 www.cooley.edu/lansing
300 S. Capitol Avenue, Lansing
Flint Public Library
Oct. 26 @ 6:30 p.m.
Ph. (810) 232-7111 www.flint.lib.mi.us
1026 E. Kearsley Street, Flint
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Oct. 27 @ 7 p.m.
Ph. (313) 494-5800 www.thewright.org
315 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit |
