This summer, local libraries, universities, and partner organizations are bringing their communities together to seek understanding and reconciliation, through a study of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize winning book for nonfiction, Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist, by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Eli Saslow.
Program coordinator and Adult Services Librarian at the Tipp City Public Library, Drew Wichterman, said “This book tells the story of Derek Black, a man born into a culture and practice of white nationalism, who was forever changed by the relationships he formed during his college experience, including with an Orthodox Jew who invited him to attend weekly Shabbat dinners. It’s a book that shines a light on America’s divided nature and shows us all how to better understand one another.”
The goal in selecting this book for a community wide read and focused panel discussion is to allow that “through reading and discussion of this title, the partner organizations will explore the power of relationships, broader understanding, and embracing differences to make a difference in our minds and in our world,” according to Wichterman.
A focused panel discussion will be filmed and shared through the partner organizations social media channels and websites. A live stream of the panel may also be viewed on Tuesday, July 28th at 6PM on Facebook by visiting @OBMC2020. The panel will include:
Faheem Curtis-Khidr, History Professor, Sinclair Community College
Marc DeWitt, Coordinator, African American Male Initiative, Sinclair Community College
Furaha Henry-Jones, English Professor, Sinclair Community College
Lynette Jones, Professor in the Department of English Language and Literatures, Wright State University
Tiffany Taylor Smith, Executive Director for Inclusive Excellence Education, University of Dayton
Vick Mickunas, of WYSO’s Book Nook, will lead the panel discussion. Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994. Over the years he has produced more than 1500 interviews with writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and celebrities. He also reviews books for the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News-Sun.
Copies of the book will be available in print and digital formats at the participating libraries and some partner organizations. For more information on this program, visit their websites and social media channels.
Partner organizations include: One Book, Many Communities, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, WYSO, Sinclair Community College, Wright State University and the University of Dayton.
Participating libraries include: Arcanum Public Library, Bradford Public Library, Brown Memorial Public Library, Cardington-Lincoln Public Library, Champaign County Library, Clark County Public Library, J. R. Clark Public Library, Edison State Community College, Greenville Public Library, Marvin Memorial Library, Milton-Union Public Library, New Carlisle Public Library, New Madison Public Library, Piqua Public Library, Selover Public Library, St. Paris Public Library, Tipp City Public Library, Tri-County North School District, Troy-Miami County Public Library, Urbana University, Worch Memorial Public Library and Wornstaff Memorial Public Library.
