The Greenwich Historical Society together with the League of Women Voters of Greenwich (LWV Greenwich) welcome award-winning reporter and acclaimed author of The Woman’s Hour, Elaine Weiss, to discuss her new book, Spell Freedom, on May 6th at 6:00 pm the Historical Society Barn. Long listed for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Non-Fiction, the book charts the efforts of four ordinary citizens in the South as they established secret schools to help black citizens overcome onerous Jim Crow laws and register to vote. The conversation will be moderated by academic leader and author Susan Herbst. Professor Herbst is President Emeritus of the University of Connecticut where she currently serves as University Professor of Political Science.
Spell Freedom tells the story of a group of largely uncelebrated heroes of the civil rights movement and shows how they laid the foundation in the mid-1950s for the success of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts of the mid-1960s. Their secretive efforts helped establish over 900 citizenship schools across the South, while also nurturing a generation of activists – many of whom were women – trained in community organizing, political engagement, and the tactics of peaceful resistance.
We hope you will join us for this inspirational story of how an unlikely group of people overcame the powerful forces arrayed against them to triumph in the face of injustice. Space is limited. Free with registration. Register at greenwichhistory.org/event/hidden-heroes/
A book signing will follow the discussion. Registrants will be have the opportunity to purchase books at the event from Diane’s Books or before the event here: https://dianesbooks.com
Registrants can also submit questions for the author in advance by sending them to Lauren Ackerley at the Greenwich Historical Society at lackerley@greenwichhistory.org
