Save the date! The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area’s Year-in-Review will be Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30 PM at the Weinberg Center for the Arts.
Join bestselling author Clint Smith as he considers “The Power of Milestone Anniversaries: Celebrating and Reckoning.” The fireside chat-style presentation will take place on the 159th anniversary of Emancipation in Maryland, as Frederick County’s 275th anniversary year draws to a close and looks ahead to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of the bestselling books, “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America,” which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and a 2021 National Book Critics Circle Award Winner for Nonfiction, and the NYT bestselling poetry collection “Above Ground,” 2023. Smith is also the author of the award-winning poetry book, “Counting Descent,” 2017. His work challenges us to listen to the legacies and memories that “remain in the marrow of our bones,” that travel through time and generations. Moderating the discussion will be Chris Haley, Maryland State Archives Director of the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland.
A supporter of public history, Dr. Smith helped launch the 2022 groundbreaking, research-supported report, “Making History Matter: From Abstract Truth to Critical Engagement,” which includes an accompanying toolkit for history communications. Audience members are invited to stay for a reception and book signing in the lobby after the program.
This event is free; tickets are required. Reserve your tickets through the Weinberg Center for the Arts.