Civil Rights Movement Through Novels: A Two-Part Book Discussion Series with Dr. John Tully

LITCHFIELD, Conn. - June 17, 2015 - PRLog -- To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Movement Through Novels: A Two-Part Book Discussion Series led by Dr. John Tully will use two novels to explore issues of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and reflect on how civil rights are doing today. By using novels, the discussion will explore the personal while also reflecting on the broader cultural and historical context. Dr. Tully will lead the conversation to incorporate experience as well as factual data to broaden the discussion of race, power and identity.

  The Civil Rights Movement through Novels will explore The Help by Kathryn Sockett on Sunday, July 19 and Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas on Sunday, August 16.

  The Help by Kathryn Stockett takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962 when 22-year old Skeeter returns home after graduating college and decides to write a book about the experiences of black maids in her hometown of Mississippi. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help sold more than 5 million copies and remained on the New York Times Bestseller list for more than 100 weeks.

  Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas tells the story of nineteen-year-old Celeste Tyree when she leaves Ann Arbor to go to Pineyville, Mississippi, in the summer of 1964 to help found a voter registration project as part of Freedom Summer. Drawing on Nicholas’ own involvement in the movement, Freshwater Road was hailed by Newsday as, “Perhaps the best work of fiction ever done about the civil rights movement.”

  Dr. John Tully is a Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University. In 2009, he won both the Connecticut State University Board of Trustees Teaching Award for CCSU and the CSU System-Level Trustees Teaching Award. The American Historical Association has highlighted his syllabus for his Social Studies Methods at the Secondary-Level class as a model for training future teachers. Dr. Tully received his B.A. from Boston University, his M.A. from CCSU, and his Ph.D. from Ohio State. He has published numerous articles and two books, Understanding and Teaching the Vietnam War, and Ireland and Irish Americans, 1932- 1945: The Search for Identity.

  Books will be available to borrow one month prior to discussion. Light refreshments will be served. All Oliver Wolcott Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or logging onto www.owlibrary.org and clicking on Programs/Adult Programs. This program is generously sponsored by the Connecticut Humanities.