LIAC’s inaugural monthly Book Talk

The Long Island Arts Council of Freeport is hosting a Book Talk series to pay homage to Black History Month. The event will take place on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Freeport Recreation Center, located at 130 E. Merrick Road. The event is open to the public and will feature three African American authors from Freeport who will discuss their work and the challenges they face as African American authors.

The first speaker is Ama Yawson, the founder of Milestoles Publishing and Educational Consulting. Ama will be sharing excerpts from her book, “A Black Family’s Conversation about Racism and Police Brutality.” Her book is a thought-provoking examination of the impact of racism and police brutality on the black community.

The second speaker is Dr. Linda Day, a Professor of Africana Studies at Brooklyn College. Dr. Day received her Ph.D. in African History at the University of Wisconsin and has extensive experience in the field of African American history on Long Island and Sierra Leone. She has been awarded a Senior Fulbright Scholar Fellowship and taught at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. Her research focuses on traditional Mende women political leaders and gender-based political authority in the history of Sierra Leone.

The third speaker is Rochelle Alers, a prolific and popular African American author of romance novels. Rochelle has been the recipient of several awards, including the Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

The event will be moderated by Johane Ligonde, the Dodd Middle School Principal and a prominent member of the Freeport National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 

The evening promises to be an insightful and inspiring celebration of Black History Month, with discussions about the rich cultural heritage of African Americans and the challenges they still face today. Refreshments will be served at this free event.