The Hudson Area Library Presents James Baldwin’s America

The Hudson Area Library proudly presents a 5-part reading and discussion series titled James Baldwin’s America Mondays beginning September 19 from 6-8pm (no meeting Columbus Day). James Baldwin, the famous American writer, took America’s promise of democracy seriously and examined its triumphs and failures. In this series participants will look at Baldwin’s work in order to explore the conflict between America’s promise of democracy and its racial history as well as its treatment of gay Americans. This series will be facilitated by Donna Ford Grover, a professor at Bard College in 19th and 20th century American literature. The library will kick off this exciting, relevant series with a public screening and discussion of American Playhouse’s Go Tell It on the Mountain on Saturday, September 10, 5 – 7pm in the library’s Community Room. Go Tell it on the Mountain was James Baldwin’s first and semi-autobiographical novel. Set in Harlem in the 1930’s it tells the moving story of a 14 year-old boy’s struggle to find his identity despite his tyrannical step-father, a Pentacostal preacher. The library will close the series with a panel discussion of topics covered in James Baldwin’s America on Saturday, October 29, 5 – 7pm. Baldwin’s importance to current events and our understanding of racial history and LGBTQ rights in America will be addressed. A reception will follow. The opening and closing events are open to the public and all are welcome!! The reading and discussion program is free and open to the public, books will be provided by the library, free of charge. Registration is limited to 20 participants and is on a first come/first serve basis. Please visit the front desk at the Hudson Area Library, email http://brenda.shufelt@hudsonarealibrary.org, or call 518.828.1792 x101 to sign up. The reading and discussion series is made possible in part with public funds from the New York Council for the Humanities.