Helmerich Center for American Research announces scholar-led book series

The University of Tulsa’s Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum will host a Let’s Talk About It book discussion series this fall with the theme “Civil Rights and Equality: A Pulitzer Prize Centennial Series.” This scholar-led discussion will highlight works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry that immerse readers in specific historic or contemporary moments with fully realized individuals experiencing inequality.

“The current moment in our culture requires that we look hard at our ideals and history and the extent to which we have – and have not – ensured the enactment and protection of civil rights within our society,” according to organizers.

Books, services and other materials for this series are provided by Let’s Talk About It, a project of Oklahoma Humanities. Generous funding and support for this series was provided by Kirkpatrick Family Fund, McCasland Foundation, Oklahoma City Community Foundation and Oklahoma City University. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Oklahoma Humanities.

1. The first discussion will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford. This discussion will focus on “The Known World” by Edward P. Jones, and the featured scholar will be Tracy Floreani, professor of English at Oklahoma City University and director of OCU’s Jeanne Hoffman Smith Center for Film and Literature.
2. The second discussion will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Rudisill Regional Library. This discussion will focus on “Native Guard” by Natasha Tretheway, and the featured speaker will be Quraysh Ali Lansana, author, Tulsa Artist Fellow, visiting associate professor of English and creative writing at UTulsa and executive producer of NPR’s “Focus: Black Oklahoma” monthly radio program on KOSU.
3. The third discussion will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at Helmerich Center for American Research, 2501 W. Newton St. This discussion will focus on “The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age” by Kevin Boyle, and the featured speaker will be Tonnia L. Anderson, associate professor of history and American studies and director of the Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing.
4. The fourth discussion will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Helmerich Center for American Research. This discussion will focus on “The Plague of Doves” by Louise Erdrich, and the featured speaker will be Leslie Hannah, president of Bacone College and director of education at the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians.
5. The fifth discussion will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Helmerich Center for American Research. This discussion will focus on “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” by Katherine Boo, and the featured speaker will be Nyla Ali Kahn, a professor at Oklahoma City Community College.

These events are free and open to the public. Registration is strongly encouraged, and guests may register at www.gilcrease.org/events. Books may be checked out from the Anne and Henry Zarrow Library at the Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum, located at 2501 W. Newton St., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Please contact Jana Gowan, reference and outreach librarian, at jana-gowan@utulsa.edu or 918-631-6449 with questions.