Washtenaw Reads Keynote Event with Ashley Rogers, Director of the Whitney Plantation | Sunday, April 14 | 3pm | AADL Downtown Library Lobby
This year's selection for the Washtenaw Read is How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith. One of the locations that he visits in the book to explore the legacy of slavery in the United States is the Whitney Plantation, outside New Orleans, Louisiana. The Whitney works to educate people about how slavery has shaped our nation's collective history. Join Ashley Rogers, Executive Director of the Whitney, who will give a talk related to the Read and the work that the Whitney does.
Copies of How the Word is Passed will be for sale from a local bookseller at this event.
Midnight: Detroit and the Underground Railroad | Monday, January 29 | 6pm | Dexter District Library
Codenamed Midnight, Detroit was a vital station on the Undergrounds Railroad. Thousands crossed the river to freedom in Canada from Detroit. Detroit abolitionists helped freedom seekers from the south evade slave catchers and local law enforcement on their way to Canada. Detroit’s abolitionist community were fierce in their support of runaways in the face of severe local opposition. Despite this opposition, Detroit’s abolitionists persisted. Join us for this presentation by Billy Winkel, Assistant Curator at the Detroit Historical Society. This program will be in the Dexter District Library’s lower-level meeting room. Registration appreciated, but not required. Register on the Library’s Events Calendar or call the Library at 734-426-4477 (ext 120).
Lincoln on Slavery, Emancipation and Equality | Wednesday, January 31 | 6pm | Dexter District Library
Mr. Lincoln shares his ever-evolving perspectives on the subjects of slavery, emancipation, and equality, including the relationship between the races during his time. This program is most appropriate for adults and for children from twelve years old on up. It runs approximately 60 minutes and is followed by an additional time of Q&A, photos, and informal interaction.
About the Presenter: Mr. Lincoln is portrayed by Kevin Wood, a professional Lincoln presenter who bears a remarkable resemblance to “the Great Emancipator” and who is extremely knowledgeable about his life and times. Mr. Wood has been portraying Mr. Lincoln for 22 years. He has made over 1,500 appearances in 31 states plus Washington DC and two foreign countries: Canada and Spain.
This program will be in the Dexter District Library’s lower-level meeting room. Register on the Library’s Events Calendar or call the Library at 734-426-4477 (ext 120).
Friday Afternoon Movie For Adults: Surrounded (2023) | Friday, February 16 | 1pm | Dexter District Library
Starring: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Michael Kenneth Williams and Jeffery Donovan
Set five years after the Civil War, this Western drama follows former Buffalo Soldier Moses "Mo" Washington as she travels west to lay claim on a gold mine bequeathed by her late slaveowner father. It is a mean, dangerous world, so Mo travels into the deep frontier disguised as a man. After her stagecoach is ambushed, she is tasked with holding a dangerous outlaw captive and must survive the day when the bandit's gang tries to free him. Rated: R, 1hr 40min. This program will be in the Dexter District Library’s lower-level meeting room. Registration is required. Register on the Library’s events calendar or call 734-426-4477 (ext. 120).
Screening of Alice's Ordinary People | Tuesday, February 20 | 6pm | Dexter District Library
Join us for a screening of Alice’s Ordinary People with an introduction by director, Craig Dudnick. Alice Tregay’s story is one of ordinary people effecting extraordinary change for human rights. It included five decades of fearless activism and the continuing relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King to the ongoing fight for justice. This documentary is 56 minutes long. There will be a Q & A session with the director following the screening. This program will be in the Dexter District Library’s Lower-Level meeting room. Registration is appreciated, but not mandatory. Register on the Library’s Events Calendar or call the Library at 734-426-4477 (ext 120).
Community Transcription with Justice InDeed | Wednesday, April 3 | 5:30pm | Ann Arbor District Library Downtown 3rd Floor
Washtenaw County is the 8th most income-segregated metro area in the United States, and this wasn't by chance. It was the result of deliberate policies and design that have perpetuated racial disparities. One of these policies was the use of racially restrictive covenants on properties throughout the county. These covenants prevented Black, Jewish, and other minoritized groups from owning or living on these properties.
Justice InDeed is a community-University partnership that invites you to become a community transcriber and help us uncover these racial covenants from nearly 10,000 property records. Your participation will help us better understand how these covenants were used across our communities and repair the harm done by them. Using our crowdsourcing website, participants will examine individual property records and transcribe information like the date and location, the text of the covenant, buyers and sellers of the property, and more. No experience is necessary, and everyone is welcome to participate.
Let's work together to uncover hidden stories, understand our past, and collectively shape a future where justice prevails.
If you have an event happening at your local library, bookstore, or community space that you'd like published here, email Elizabeth Walline (wallinee@aadl.org) with details!