2 Book Talks in Virginia

On Thursday, November 14, 2013, I gave a lecture at the University of Richmond.  The event was sponsored by the Department of Theate & Dance and took place on Cousins Stage of the Modlin Center for the Arts. Department Chair Dorothy Holland made the visit possible, and I was warmly greeted by several colleagues, including professors Patricia Herrera, Walter Schoen, madison moore, Chuck Mike, W. Reed West, Anne Norman Van Gelder, Johann Stegmeir, and Alicia Díaz. 

The majority of those in attendance were undergraduate students, one of whom asked how I cope with all the violence I study.  What an incisive and crucial question! Among other things, I shared with her that I would be running the Richmond Half Marathon that very Saturday. I told her that that fact was very much related to just how important her question was.

Professor Patricia Herrera was a wonderful host and she asked a question about recent movies about slavery that allowed me to articulate many of my concerns with how the entertainment industry treats black pain. 

Cousin Nate lives in Richmond, so he made a point of coming to talk to me afterward. So nice to have an unexpected family element to the weekend!

On Friday, November 15, 2013, I gave a book lecture in Charlottesville at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.  It was a special treat!  Nearly everyone in attendance was an established scholar, so they were extraordinarily engaged.  Author Hermine Pinson of William and Mary helped make the visit possible, and Foundation president Robert C. Vaughan, III made time to attend.  University of Virginia colleagues, such as Marlon Ross and Lisa Woolfork, attended and asked questions that will continue to inform my thinking.  It was also a treat to have rising literary scholar Laura Goldblatt there. As usual, her contribution to the discussion was challenging and invigorating. 

The next day, Saturday, November 16, 2013, I ran the Richmond Half Marathon and set a new PR! Cousin Nate even got a picture of my finish!  This was my 10th half marathon but definitely the first time that I finished with so much energy that I threw my hands up in victory!  A great way to cap off an amazing weekend!