CKCPJ sponsors Professor Ezra Greenspan, biographer of William Wells Brown

 

 

Dr. Ezra Greenspan (left) with Billie Mallory at the Lyric

As part of the CKCPJ's continuing efforts to educate ourselves on the longstanding history and roots of racism locally, in the U.S. and across the globe, a multi-racial group of activists came together to host a series of events featuring Dr. Ezra Greenspan of Southern Methodist University.  An English professor long interested in the African-American author William Wells Brown, Greenspan arrived in Lexington with his wife Riki on September 16th and had dinner with two CKCPJ members: Billie Mallory and Howard Myers. Greenspan's arrival in Lexington was part of a national tour to promote his forthcoming book, William Wells Brown: An African American Life (see Tom Eblen's blog post).

Professor Greenspan's visit included meeting with people of all ages. In every instance he emphasized that William Wells Brown would - if he were alive - see Lexington as a model of diversity which was one of his greatest aspirations. Dr. Greenspan's schedule of visits with local schools went as follows:

Wednesday (9/17)

• 4:00 p.m. - University of Kentucky (at the W.T.Young Library auditorium) sponsored by the departments of History, English, and African American and Africana Studies
  

Thursday (9/18)

 

• 8:30 a.m. - FCPS STEAM Academy (at the Assembly for all 200 of the 9th and 10th graders there)
• 10:00 a.m. - FCPS Lexington Traditional Middle School (at the Assembly for approximately 200 8th graders)
• 1:30 p.m. - FCPS William Wells Brown Elementary (at the assembly for approximately 150 4th and 5th graders - see the news article here)
• 4:00 p.m. - Book Talk and Signing at Third Street Stuff (open to the public)
• 6:30 p.m. - William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association community presentation at the Lyric (open to the public)

 

 

Tanya Torp welcomes attendees

Thomas Tolliver introduces Dr. Greenspan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday (9/19)

• 9:00 a.m. - Sayre School (two 11th grade U.S. History classes taught by Tim O'Rourke)
• 12:30 p.m. - Sayre School Buttery (open to all students)
• 1:15 p.m. - Sayre School Elementary (all 4th graders) with local historian Yvonne Giles

Professor Greenspan continually emphasized in his talks that William Wells Brown would have been proud of what Lexington has become over the years since its slaveholding past. Brown believed that the most authentic communities are inclusive.

A good time was had by all, and the CKCPJ was enriched by this collaborative effort.

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Photographs taken by Rich Greissman, DoubleTake Photography.