Education & Ideas Festival

This week, we conclude our semester of projects and activities with a series of “public thinking” events, blog entries about Lovejoy Library’s EBR Digital Collection, a production of a mobile audio exhibit focusing on poet Adrian Matejka’s writings on the boxer Jack Johnson, and a black books book sale.

Our coordination of several activities related to education and ideas in concentrated places and time led us to refer to what we’re doing as a “festival” as opposed to something more formal like a “symposium” or “conference.”

Public Thinking Events: For two years now, we’ve organized events where large numbers of students associated with the Haley Scholars Academy and our orientation courses for first-year black men and women gather to share and exchange ideas. This week’s events will focus on: 1.) Educational environments, diversity, and shifting demographics and 2.) Mind work—the pursuit of introspective thinking. The events will take place on the first floor of Lovejoy Library on Tuesday, December 6, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., and on Wednesday, December 7, from 12:00 p.m. – 2 p.m.

The EBR Digital Collection: This week, we’ll run a series of blog entries focusing on Lovejoy Library’s Eugene B. Redmond (EBR) Collection. The library has recently expanded its digital collection of the Redmond materials. Our contributors, Clarissa Richee, Cindy Lyles, and Danielle Hall will assist me in writing about the appearance of the materials from the collection online.

A Long Walk with Adrian Matejka and Jack Johnson: On Tuesday, December 6 from 1 – 3 and then Wednesday, December 7 from 1 – 2, at Lovejoy Library, attendees can use our audio devices to listen to selections from Adrian Matejka’s upcoming book on Jack Johnson.

The Black Books Book Sale: Thursday, December 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., we’ll host a book sale featuring works by or about African Americans. The books are $1 to $5. The book sale serves as a fundraiser for the program and as an opportunity for students to view large numbers of black books, even if they do not plan to buy. The book sale takes place on the first floor of Peck Hall.