JOIN OUR DISCUSSION

As you may be aware, the Maryland Humanities Council’s Center for the Book has launched an initiative called “One Maryland One Book,” a statewide community reading program. What this means is that Marylanders of every age, ethnicity, gender, and background are being encouraged to read the book A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind. This book tells the story of Cedric Jennings, who went from one of Washington DC's poorest neighborhoods (and its most neglected school) to success at Brown University, one of the most storied institutions in the nation. It is ultimately a tale of inspiration, since there are many roadblocks and obstacles along the way for Cedric.

Of particular interest to this discussion is the prevalent attitude among his peers that academic success is somehow a betrayal of his race and his community. In one early scene, Cedric literally hides as the student body is called to assembly because he knows that there will be payback for his being honored as an outstanding student. And Suskind tells of how administrators try to trick the kids into being recognized for academic achievement. The kids fear reprisals, and the administrators know this, but they also need some symbols of hope and possibility in an otherwise bleak and forsaken place.

What we would like is for all of you, Marylanders and also out-of-staters who happened upon this blog, to, of course, read the book. But we also encourage you to post your impressions of the book on these pages, and to tell us about your own school days. You might also tell us what success, especially in an academic sense, means to you.

Is Cedric "acting white" to get ahead in the world? What does racial authenticity mean to you? And what of re-segregation? Cedric attends a nearly all black school. Are things different in a more diverse student body, or are the African American students still very much marginalized? The Banneker-Douglass Museum will be hosting two events (see our Calendar of Events--September) in conjunction with the initiative. The book is available at local bookstores, and at your neighborhood library. We look forward to hearing from you.

--Joni Jones, Librarian-Archivist, SGGL

Breaking News - We have a online catalog!!!!

After nearly a year of anticipation, hopes, dreams, dedicated cataloging, and persistence - our catalog is now online and available! You can search it by clicking on the above link, or you can click here.

Although we still have a few kinks to work out, you can browse through our collection and search our materials, all from the comfort of your own home! This is a great step forward for the library, and holds much potential. We are ecstatic!

Stay tuned as we add more records to the database! And if you think of a book that we should have in our collection, let us know!

Happy searching :o)

Blog post by Sara Smith, IMPART intern

You're Invited: One Maryland One Book (OMOB)

Who: Everyone
What: A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind
When: Reading this summer followed by community based programs this fall
Where: All over Maryland

Imagine if all of Maryland were reading the same book at the same time, if all of us were engaging in constructive discussion, sharing from personal experiences, and connecting as a community. Well this summer that dream is becoming a reality through the One Maryland One Book (OMOB) program! Launched by The Maryland Center for the Book, a division of the Maryland Humanities Council and hosted by Katie O’Malley, The First Lady of Maryland, this program is being supported by groups across the state, including the Banneker-Douglass Museum. The plan is to read the book and discuss it both as individuals and small groups over the summer. Early fall community partners will host events to engage community discussion and thoughtful reflection about the book and the topics it raises. This program will encourage us all to read, communicate, relate, and explore the themes raised through this and other materials. If you want more information about the program you can go to its website at http://www.onemarylandonebook.org/ where you’ll find information about the program and the book, the community partners, and up-coming events.

The book chosen for this year is A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind. It follows the life of Cedric Lavar Jennings, beginning with his junior year in one of the worst Washington, DC, high schools up through his time at Brown University. Having read about eighty pages, I can’t wait to read more. The book is hard to put down. The subjects it addresses, such as race, the influence of society, the claws in the education system, and the importance of family, guarantee no shortage of topics to think about and discuss.

While we all are reading and anxiously waiting for our community programs to start the Maryland Humanities Council has provided a Readers Guide with resources to both excite readers and help them engage the reading. With biographies of both Cedric Jennings and Ron Suskind and discussion questions both for the general reader and specifically for teens, the Readers Guide is a great resource for everyone interested in reading this book alone or with others. Also included in the Guide are lists of other resources, including books ranging from fiction, nonfiction, teen, and Maryland based stories, and even some movies that might appeal to those who enjoyed A Hope in the Unseen.

Books are available for purchase at the Banneker-Douglass Museum (BDM) for $12.00. For more information on the program and the events planned by the BDM in relation to OMOB feel free to contact us at (410) 216-6180 or JJones [at] mdp.state.md.us.

Good luck and happy reading!

photo source:
OMOB website http://www.onemarylandonebook.org/
Blog composed by J. Caity Swanson, Hodson Intern