Lenox Library to Feature National Book Award Finalist Jerald Walker

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LENOX, Mass. —  Lenox Library will continue its Distinguished Lecture Series on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. with National Book Award Finalist Jerald Walker.

In his lecture, "The Making of a Dragon Slayer," Jerald Walker will discuss how his development as a writer was radically altered by his mentor’s analysis of the Black experience. His talk will include a reading from his critically acclaimed collection, "How to Make a Slave and Other Essays."

Jerald Walker is the author of "How to Make a Slave and Other Essays," a Finalist for the National Book Award and Winner of the Massachusetts Book Award; "The World in Flames: A Black Boyhood in a White Supremacist Doomsday Cult;" and "Street Shadows: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and Redemption," recipient of the PEN/New England Award for Nonfiction; and, most recently, "Magically Black and Other Essays."

His work has appeared in publications such as the Harvard Review, Creative Nonfiction, The Iowa Review, The New York Times, Washington Post, and Mother Jones, and it has been widely anthologized, including six times in The Best American Essays series and in the Pushcart Prizes. A recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the James A. Michener Foundation, Walker is a Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at Emerson College.

Now in its 18th season, the Distinguished Lecture Series is organized and hosted by Dr. Jeremy Yudkin, a resident of the Berkshires and Professor of Music and Co-Director of the Center for Beethoven Research at Boston University. Lectures are free and open to the public. Please visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page for more information.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Community in Unity Day in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community in Unity Day: Living with Purpose will be held on the First Street Common from 10 to 4 on Monday, Sept. 7. 
 
Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and the Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association have partnered with local resident Ricardo Reeves to host this event. 
 
This will be a day dedicated to bringing the community together through music, art, food, and family-friendly activities.
 
The event will feature live music by Wanda Houston, children's art activities, food trucks, and community resources. The splash pad will be open for kids to enjoy, and water will be provided. Community in Unity Day is open to everyone free of charge and the event is senior friendly and will feature an interpreter. 
 
This is a drug and alcohol-free event. Food trucks will have fare available for purchase.
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