We welcome you to a virtual conversation w ith journalist and author Lee Hawkins as he talks about examining his fami ly&rsquo\;s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in his riveti ng memoir\, "I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family&rsquo\;s History Set Me Fre e."
\n"I Am Nobody&rsquo\;s Slave" tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic rac ism and racial violence. This book examines how trauma from enslavement an d Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America\, influenced each g eneration\, and how they succeeded despite these challenges.
\nTo th eir suburban Minnesotan neighbors\, the Hawkinses were an ideal American f amily\, embodying strength and success. However\, behind closed doors\, th ey faced the legacy of enslavement and apartheid. Lee Hawkins\, Sr. often exhibited rage\, leaving his children anxious and curious about his protec tive view of the world. Thirty years later\, his son uncovered the reasons for his father&rsquo\;s anxiety and occasional violence. Through research \, he discovered violent deaths in his family for every generation since s lavery\, mostly due to white-on-Black murders\, and how white enslavers im pacted the family&rsquo\;s customs.
\nHawkins explores the role of r acism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ance stors' lives\, using genetic testing\, reporting and historical data to cr aft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research ca n educate and heal Americans of all races\, revealing through their story the story of America &mdash\; a journey of struggle\, resilience and the h eavy cost of ultimate success.
\nAdults. \;Register to receive a link \;for vie wing this online event.
\nAbout the Author: Lee Haw kins was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist as a lead reporter on a series abo ut the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 at the \;Wall Street Journal\, where he worked for nineteen years. He has received several fellowships\, including The Carter Center&rsquo\;s Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health J ournalism\, the Alicia Patterson Foundation Journalism Fellowship\, the O& rsquo\;Brien Fellowship for Public Service Journalism and the USC Annenber g Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship for reporting on child well-being. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the National Association of B lack Journalists&rsquo\; &ldquo\;Salute to Excellence&rdquo\; Award. He is the creator and host of the podcast &ldquo\;What Happened in Alabama?&rdq uo\; and lives in the New York City area.
\nThis event is pa rt of \;DBRL's \;Online Author Series\, supported by David Lile honorarium funds. A recording will a lso be available for later viewing on the \;author series site.
\nhttps://dbrl.libnet.info/ev ent/12518904 URL;VALUE=URI:https://dbrl.libnet.info/event/12518904 ATTACH:https://static.libnet.info/images/events/dbrl/Lee-Hawkins-350.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR