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Hoping to Learn & Learning to Hope

“OVERHAULING THE AMERICAN PRISON INDUSTRY: A View From 20 Years of Incarceration” is the name of the seminar that my co-author Maurice Tyree and I appeared on this morning. Hosted by our publisher, Lived Places Publishing, it was an opportunity for people to learn about our book, hear Maurice’s thinking, and simply understand why weContinue reading “Hoping to Learn & Learning to Hope”

World on the Move

WORLD ON THE MOVE: 250,000 YEARS OF HUMAN MIGRATION is a traveling exhibition made possible through the partnership of the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. So believe me when I say I was thrilled when the principal librarian of Piscataway Public Library, Joy Robinson, contacted me to speak about my newContinue reading “World on the Move”

Not On Her Watch

BLACK WOMEN ACTIVISTS still don’t get enough play in our country’s historiography. But slowly their stories are being foregrounded, such as in my colleague Hettie Williams’ new book, The Georgia of the North: Black Women and the Civil Rights Movement in New Jersey. My recent book, Alien Soil: Oral Histories of Great Migration Newark alsoContinue reading “Not On Her Watch”

Book Me

BOOKCLUB MAVENS! (A gender-neutral term, I’ll have you know). This week I am here to suggest that my book would be superperfect for your next gathering. I’ve done some major research in my day when it comes to book clubs, let me tell you. And it occurs to me that my new book, Alien Soil:Continue reading “Book Me”

Southern Ways

“SOUTHERN TOWN.” The term can evoke images of racism and violence. And this was the case quite often, through the 20th century – and of course still occurring even today. But, as oral histories are so wonderful in reminding us, nothing and no one is all one thing. And the interviews from the Krueger-Scott African-AmericanContinue reading “Southern Ways”

War, What is it Good For?

WAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. (And politicians know it, by the way). When WWI began — and again in WWII — some immigrants went back to their countries of origin to fight in those armies. This departure greatly affected urban centers like Newark, as they had been the sites of so muchContinue reading “War, What is it Good For?”

Painting History

JACOB LAWRENCE WAS A JERSEY KID, and an artist whose work many of us are familiar with – even if we don’t know his name. Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, his parents a part of the Great Migration. But he moved to Harlem as a teenager and spent most of life there. And whileContinue reading “Painting History”

Alien Soil: Leaving the South

I HAVE A NEW BOOK as some of you know, out from Rutgers University Press: Alien Soil: Oral Histories of Great Migration Newark. Last year I spent some time writing about the subject matter of my book through the images of the painter. Jacob Lawrence’s, Great Migration series. So many readers enjoyed the art —Continue reading “Alien Soil: Leaving the South”

Easter Love?

HALLELUJAH HE IS RISEN. That’s what they say in my tradition. In my church. When I had a church. Before I was disappointed in a stance, and then deceived by a board. Two churches in three years. Some say, maybe church is not for you. I wonder this myself, what with my some-would-call radical views.Continue reading “Easter Love?”

You Better (Not) Think

THANKS TO SKIN CANCER I FORGOT HOW TO BE IN THE MOMENT. What I mean is that I spent so much time since June 26 (who’s counting?) anticipating the other side of this debaucle that I got out of practice of the whole Being thing. I mean, I tried to be present, grateful, all thatContinue reading “You Better (Not) Think”