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A virtual talk with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Lee Hawkins
VIRTUAL | After the event date, watch the talk any time through Library Speakers Consortium
Lee Hawkins talks about his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in this riveting memoir, I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free. Hawkins examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow limited the possibilities of his family thriving in America and how they succeeded despite the challenges.
Hawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors' lives, using genetic testing, reporting, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races, revealing through their story the story of America—a journey of struggle, resilience, and the heavy cost of ultimate success.
Lee Hawkins was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist as a lead reporter on a series about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 at the Wall Street Journal, where he worked for nineteen years. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists’ "Salute to Excellence" Award. He is the creator and host of the podcast "What Happened in Alabama?" and lives in the New York City area.
Borrow I Am Nobody's Slave from our collection
This live, virtual event is presented by BPL's digital resource, Library Speakers Consortium, which curates virtual presentations with top authors from around the world.
Register to attend this virtual talk live and submit questions in advance for the author.
