Athens, Ga. – As a part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the University of Georgia’s desegregation, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is sponsoring a campus-wide read of Charlayne Hunter-Gault’s memoir, In My Place.
The book recalls the UGA alumna’s early years growing up black and female in the Deep South and the turmoil surrounding her entrance to the university. Hunter-Gault graduated from Grady College in 1963 and has enjoyed a distinguished career in newspapers, magazines, radio and television.
In preparation for Hunter-Gault’s return to campus in January, the Grady College is encouraging all members of the university community to read her book. The UGA Bookstore is offering In My Place at a discounted price.
Campus-wide reads are a common practice at many universities as a way to help members of the campus community connect with each other and with challenging ideas and texts.
“Given the opportunity to meet with the author to commemorate a moment in history and to be able to talk with the author about what that moment was like personally is such an incredible gift,” said Leara Rhodes, a journalism professor and member of the 50th Anniversary committee. “We have to read this book.”
The In My Place campus read will give participants a richer understanding of Hunter-Gault’s experience and provide an opportunity for a more engaging dialogue during her visit. Hunter-Gault will return to campus on Sunday, Jan. 9, the anniversary of the day she and Hamilton Holmes became the first two African Americans to register for classes at UGA.On Monday, Jan. 10, she will deliver a 50th anniversary lecture at 3 p.m. in the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel’s Mahler Auditorium.
Hunter-Gault will visit the Grady College on Tuesday, Jan. 11 as part of “In My Place: An Intimate Discussion with Charlayne Hunter-Gault.” Fifteen Grady College students were provided copies of her book and have been selected to anchor the discussion. The event will be held from 9-11 a.m. in the WNEG-TV first floor broadcast studio, and is open to the public. Space is limited.
Grady College is also sponsoring “Telling the Story: Education and Equality through the Peabody Lens,” a three-part screening of Peabody Award-winning documentaries about civil rights, in January and February.
The University of Georgia is marking the 50th anniversary of its desegregation with a series of events from Jan. 9-Feb. 28. The theme of the commemoration is “Celebrating Courage” — not only of the pioneering students who broke the color barrier, but of those who supported them and those who came after. For more information, see desegregation.uga.edu . For more information about the Grady College events, see www.grady.uga.edu/diversity.
