Book reading, watch event to explore slavery's history

Randy Griffith, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 4—A Black History Month program will delve into the history of the slave industry and its impact on today's society by revisiting key locations associated with the slave trade in 18th- and 19th-century America.

Sponsored jointly by the NAACP Johnstown Branch and the Universal Unitarian Fellowship of Ligonier Valley, the program will focus on the award-winning book "How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America," by Clint Smith.

Participants will be able to join two book discussions during February and a "watch party" featuring a virtual presentation by Smith in March, with interactive discussion.

The book won the 2021 National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and was named one of the top 10 books of 2021 by the New York Times.

Readers are taken on Smith's research visits to seven locations that played major roles in the slave economy.

The locations are Whitney Plantation and Angola Prison, both in Louisiana; Monticello Plantation and Blandford Cemetery, both in Virginia; Galveston Island, Texas; New York City; and Gorée Island, Senegal, Africa.

Karlice Makuchan, NAACP Black history committee chairwoman, said the book gives readers an insight into influences that are often overlooked or covered up today.

She gave the example of Thomas Jefferson's famous home, Monticello, where some tours continue to focus on the splendor of the mansion and Jefferson's contribution to the founding of the United States.

She said they skip over Jefferson's legacy as a slave owner.

"If you miss his connection to slavery, you really miss the point," Makuchan said.

This program is coordinated by Westmoreland Reads of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, along with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

There will be two virtual book discussions presented by Zoom during February, each covering half of the book. Each session will be offered twice, with different Pitt professors moderating the talks each night.

Sessions at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday will cover Whitney Plantation, Angola Prison, Monticello Plantation and Blandford Cemetery. Sessions at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and 28 will study Galveston Island, New York City and Gorée Island.

The "watch party" will be held at 7 p.m. March 20 in the John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

To join the Zoom discussions, use Meeting ID: 884-621-0872, password: UUFLV, or Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/8846210872?pwd=SUNmc1ZJQWJCbkNZdGszeURERWU1dz09.

More information can be had by contacting Makuchan at knmak1019@gmail.com.