BOOK EVENTS
thank you,
new York
It was a day to remember, from the welcoming steel pan music to the beautiful Caribbean buffet the guests enjoyed. Meeting and hearing your thoughts on the book meant the world to me.
A heartfelt thank you to all the supporters who joined us; your presence made the event truly special and unforgettable.
afternoon tea at Highland beach
I was delighted to be invited to Highland Beach as part of my book tour. Highland Beach is a special place in American history, known as the summer retreat of two iconic figures: Frederick Douglass and Mary Church Terrell.
Nestled on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, this quaint community served as a haven for African Americans who sought respite from the constraints of segregation during the early 20th century. Frederick Douglass, a renowned abolitionist, writer, and statesman, found solace and inspiration in the tranquil beauty of Highland Beach. His summer home, Twin Oaks, provided a sanctuary where he could continue his advocacy for civil rights while enjoying the serene surroundings of Maryland's coastline.
Mary Church Terrell, a prominent civil rights activist and one of the first African American women to earn a college degree, also made Highland Beach her summer retreat.
Established in 1893 by Charles Douglass, Frederick Douglass's son, it became one of the first African American-owned beach resorts in the United States. The book signing event, themed around an elegant afternoon tea, symbolized more than a delightful gathering; it represents a tradition of resilience, community, and empowerment.
Black women have utilized tea party gatherings to plan, strategize, and discuss the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.
Thank you to the Highland Beach community for attending and supporting the event. The staff and volunteers all worked hard to make the event memorable and a great success. A special thank you to Vantresa Scott for sponsoring the event and the Highland Beach Town Hall and the Frederick Douglas House Museum.
I am delighted to announce that Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars is now available at the Visitors Information Point.
The accessibility of the Visitor Information Point at 44 – 45 High Street,
Oxford will enable visitors to the city to find and purchase a copy of Black Oxford - The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholar and learn more about the Black presence at the University and its many scholars, from Christian Frederick Cole, the first Black scholar in 1873 to the first African woman Kofoworola Moore, and the first Rhodes Scholar, Alain LeRoy Locke.
Join me on Saturday, 23rd March 2024, to celebrate the stocking of Black Oxford - The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars at the Visitors Information Point, 44 - 45 High Streett, Oxford. Drop in from 11.00 am - 3.00 pm.
I am showcasing my latest book, The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Intellectual - The Story of a James Arthur Harley, at this year's Oxford Indie Book Fair at the Oxford Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. Stall 37. The Fair is FREE, so come down and say hello and spend a Sunday engaging with writers, book lovers, readers, and artists.
Topics suggestions for discussion
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Colourism was prevalent at the turn of the 20th century. What is it, and does it still exist today?
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Is there a rivalry between African Americans and West Indians? If so, why and does the rival still exist
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Before Rosa Parks, there was Mrs Mary Church Terrell – Discover the contribution of Washington's black female intellectual elites to the US Civil Rights Movement c1900.
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What are the parallels between Josephine Lawson (James Harley's wife,1909) and the women of the Windrush Generation (the 1950s) experiences in England?
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How did Harley's effort contribute to the Great War?
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Could contemporary politicians learn any lessons from Harley's political style and methods?
The event is FREE to attend.
Books are available to purchase at the event £20.00
Are you reading the fascinating life story of Antiguan scholar James Arthur Harley in The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Intellectual?
Would you like to share your thoughts, comments, and observations about Harley, his wife, in-laws and his education and career?
Join me on Monday, 19th December, from 7.30 pm - 8.30 pm for an informal virtual gathering to discuss, debate and delve into Harley's life.
BOOK SIGNING EVENTS
Books are available for sale at all events
Jesus College,
University of Oxford
Thursday, 27th October,
7.00pm - 9.00pm
Lecture Theatre
The Ship Street Centre,
Ship Street
Oxford OX1 3DW
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Book launch and signing
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Presentation
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In -conversation
Professor Patricia Daley will host the in-conversation with Pamela Roberts.
The event is FREE to attend. Please register at info@blackoxford.net.
Patricia Daley is an African-Jamaican feminist and Professor of the Human Geography of Africa at the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford. She is also the Helen Morag Fellow and Tutor in Geography at Jesus College Oxford. In 2021, she was made a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and, in 2022, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Patricia is passionate about equity, diversity, and decolonial praxis in research and the curriculum.
The British Library
Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Friday 21st October
7.15 pm - 8.30 pm
The event begins with a theatrical performance from Roberts's 2017 play, A Scholar and A Stateman.
The performance is a series of selected scenes presenting an overview of Harley's life.
A Q&A and book signing follows the performance.
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Full Price: £5.00
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Members: £5.00
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Under 18: £2.50
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Other concessions are available.
Tickets can be booked using the following link.
The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Intellectual - The British Library
Society of Authors (online event)
8th November 7.00pm -8.00pm.
SOA Member and K Blundell prize recipient Pamela Roberts, creative producer, historian and author of Black Oxford The Untold Stories of Oxford University's Black Scholars, will discuss themes within her latest book, The Adventures of a Black Edwardian Intellectual.
This online event will feature a visual presentation and an overview of the story of James Arthur Harley and Pamela Roberts' work as the founder and director of Black Oxford Untold Stories – celebrating Oxford University's black scholars from the 20th century to the present day. Her discovery of Harley's archive and her five-year journey, including the award of the K. Blundell Award for research in Antigua, to bring his story to life.
What will this session cover?
Does colourism still exist, and is it relevant in a diverse society?
· Does a rivalry still exist between African Americans & West Indians?
· The invisibility of black women - Black women's contribution to the Civil Rights Movement c1900.
· The outsider within – blacks at elite educational institutions.
· How has society changed from Harley's time to now - racism, housing, cost of living, employment opportunities?
Who is this session for?
The event will appeal to audiences interested in biography, Antigua, social, African American, and Black British history.
Please send us your questions.
If you would like to send questions for Pamela Roberts in advance, email sjackson@societyofauthors.org with 'Black Edwardian' in the subject header.
We will prioritize questions sent in advance and answer as many as possible from the audience on the day.
Please register for the event using this link.
Black History Month: Industry Insider – Books About Dead Black People Don't Sell. The Importance of Telling Black History and Untold Heritage Stories. - The Society of Authors.
Royal Overseas League, London
Wednesday 9th November
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Book launch/signing
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Presentation
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In-conversation
Dr Claire Hynes will host the in-conversation with Pamela Roberts.
Dr Hynes is a Lecturer in the Literature, Drama and Creative Writing Department at UEA. She writes fiction, non-fiction, memoir and theatre monologues. Her work includes 'In Her Hair', listed for a Bath Short Story Award (2014), and 'How It Feels to Be, Black Me ', published in Lighthouse literary journal (2019).