Stirring the Ashes: Can We Live With the Discomfort of Talking Openly About Slavery?
Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick and H. D. "De" Kirkpatrick met at Myers Park High School in the 1960s. Just last year they learned that the ancestor of one had owned the ancestor of the other as a slave.
What followed was a remarkable conversation.
On August 9, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will host a program with these two men. They’ll talk about their history and ours. And how to have a conversation about -- and grow from -- a discussion of slavery.
"In 1850, 40% of Mecklenburg County's population were enslaved people,” notes the Kirpatricks. “Let's talk about this."
The program will also feature a panel of notable guests, including Dr. Tom Hanchett, Levine Museum of the New South; Dr. Rev. Steve Shoemaker, Theologian-In-Residence at Queens University of Charlotte and a visiting Assistant Professor of Religion at Johnson C. Smith University.; and Dr. Julia M. Robinson, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gary Schwab, Sr. Sports Editor of the Charlotte Observer, will serve as the panel host.
Jane Johnson, Manager of the Library’s Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room and program organizer, hopes program attendees will gain many things from the experience. "Our intent is to delve more deeply into this area of our past so that we can learn, and perhaps even heal,” said Johnson. “These two men have a fascinating personal story to tell. Our aim is for attendees to leave with new understanding, and maybe even feel inspired to learn more about their own personal histories.”
“Stirring the Ashes” takes place August 9th at 2 p.m. at the Morrison Regional Library branch, 7015 Morrison Boulevard, Charlotte. Registration is not required. For more information, visit www.cmlibrary.org/programs or call Main Library’s Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room at 704-416-0150.
Individuals who are interested in learning more about their personal histories can begin their genealogical exploration in the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, which houses historical information on Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and North Carolina as well as genealogical information from the entire country and free access to Ancestry.com's Library Edition. Professionally trained staff are available to assist visitors with these collections during all hours of operation. The Carolina Room is located on the third floor of Main Library, 310 N. Tryon Street, in Uptown Charlotte, and is open Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For details, visit www.cmlibrary.org/locations/mainCarolina.asp or call 704-416-0150.
This program supports the mission of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas. To learn more about the wealth of upcoming programs available from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, visit www.cmlibrary.org/programs.
Tags: