We welcome you to our conversation with jo urnalist and author Lee Hawkins as he talks to us about the examination of his family&rsquo\;s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in t his riveting memoir\, I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family&rs quo\;s History Set Me Free. \;
\nI Am Nobody&rsquo\;s Slave tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream throu gh the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence. This book examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America\, influenced each generation\, and how they succeeded despite t hese challenges.
\nTo their suburban Minnesotan neighbors\, the Hawk inses were an ideal American family\, embodying strength and success. Howe ver\, behind closed doors\, they faced the legacy of enslavement and apart heid. Lee Hawkins\, Sr. often exhibited rage\, leaving his children anxiou s and curious about his protective view of the world. Thirty years later\, his son uncovered the reasons for his father&rsquo\;s anxiety and occasio nal violence. Through research\, he discovered violent deaths in his famil y for every generation since slavery\, mostly due to white-on-Black murder s\, and how white enslavers impacted the family&rsquo\;s customs.
\nHawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors' lives\, using genetic testing\, repor ting\, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book sh ows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races\ , revealing through their story the story of America&mdash\;a journey of s truggle\, resilience\, and the heavy cost of ultimate success. Register to day to join the conversation!
\nAbout the Author: LEE HAWKINS was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist as a lead reporter on a series about the Tuls a Massacre of 1921 at the Wall Street Journal\, where he worked for ninete en years. He has received several fellowships\, including The Carter Cente r&rsquo\;s Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism\, the A licia Patterson Foundation Journalism Fellowship\, the O&rsquo\;Brien Fell owship for Public Service Journalism\, the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship for reporting on child well-being. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists&rs quo\; &ldquo\;Salute to Excellence&rdquo\; Award. He is the creator and ho st of the podcast &ldquo\;What Happened in Alabama?&rdquo\; and lives in t he New York City area.
\nThis program is sponsored by the Friends of Duncan Library and the Friends of Beatley Centr al Library.
\nUpcoming and previously broadcast author talk s can be viewed here.
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