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April 22nd, 2009

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Annette Gordon-Reed Wins 2009 Pulitzer for History

HemingsCongratulations are in order for author and historian Annette Gordon-Reed, whose book “The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family” has won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for History. Ms. Gordon-Reed, who also wrote “Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy,” was the Speaker at BHS’ Annual Library Dinner in March. She delivered an amazing speech on the lives of the Hemings family, including much about Sally Hemings, who bore seven children by Thomas Jefferson. Again, congratulations from BHS and we hope that Ms. Gordon-Reed will return to the BHS Library when she begins to research for her next book. 

 

 

 

 

Memoirs

I just finished reading Nelson George’s new memoir City Kid: A Writer’s Memoir of Ghetto Life and Post-Soul Success.  George’s personal reflections on Brownsville, East New York, and Fort Greene; his open discussions of race and class; plus his impassioned knowledge of the complex relationships between the media, music & film industries, and popular culture, make for an inspiring read.  I’m looking forward to the City Kid launch party and reading here at BHS on May 13th.

Students in the BHS oral history seminar I’m teaching are choosing books of oral histories (or memoirs) to read and discuss with the class.  I’m excited to hear what they find.  Here’s what’s on my memoir/oral histories/historical biographies To-Read list, if you’re looking for ideas: