JANUARY
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One hundred years ago, W.E.B. DuBois wrote in The Souls of Black Folk: “Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here at the dawning of the Twentieth Century. This meaning is not without interest to you, Gentle Reader; for the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line.” DuBois went on to examine the effects of the jim crow laws that followed emancipation, evaluate the remedies for racism proposed by Booker T. Washington and other thinkers of the era, and outline his own views on how African-Americans might best combat inequality–specifically, by pushing for civil rights and access to education. The watershed essay collection is one focus of this year’s meeting of the American Historical Association, which will hold a free panel discussion on DuBois and his book from 2 to 4 today. Participants include historians Stephanie Shaw (Ohio State University), David Blight (Amherst College), Elsa Barkley Brown (University of Maryland), and Earl Lewis (University of Michigan). It’s at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton in Chicago (312-255-3700). The library will host three more public lectures marking the work’s centennial February 18, March 22, and April 24; for more details go to www.newberry.org.
4 SATURDAY
Delta bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards, 88, was recognized as a national treasure last year when he was awarded an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, a prize created 20 years ago to honor American folk artists. He’s also the focus of local filmmaker Scott Taradash’s new documentary, Honeyboy, which traces the musician’s career from rural Mississippi to New Orleans, Memphis, Houston, and the Windy City (where he still lives). Edwards and Taradash will answer questions at the premiere screenings tonight at 5 and 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, Chicago (312-846-2800). It’ll be shown again Thursday, January 9, at 8:15; tickets are $8. For more see the Critic’s Choice in Movies.
8 WEDNESDAY
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/John Reilly.
