On September 19, 2017, Johnson C. Smith University will commemorate the publication of its newest volume with a book launch and signing. “Ten Men” is an insightful oral history told from the perspective of ten of Charlotte’s most dynamic change-agents working to strengthen Charlotte’s oldest African-American community. It features the voices of rights champion Charles Jones, visionary architect Darrel Williams, empowering entrepreneur Damian Johnson, dedicated civil servant Alvin Austin, and grassroots organizer Colin Pinkney. The book launch and signing take place at 5:30 p.m. in the New Science Center Auditorium.
“Ten Men,” which focuses squarely on Charlotte’s West Side, is a literary antidote to the sobering statistics plaguing Charlotte's Black men. Edited by award-winning journalist and author Ron Stodghill, the work blends glimpses of the community's storied past with discussions of present-day dramatic shifts: gentrifying neighborhoods, an imminent Gold Line streetcar, and new business and commercial construction.
The second in a volume inviting readers into a new era of civic engagement, “Ten Men” invites readers into the minds and hearts of some of the city's most exceptional leaders as they leverage the power of community groups, book clubs, churches, athletic teams, and even barbershops to build a Charlotte where all of its citizens have a voice and a prosperous future.
“Ten Men,” developed under the auspices of Smith Institute for Applied Research, articulates JCSU President Ronald L. Carter’s vision to provide records of the present from a different lens than the traditional narrative, so that future generations can better understand the factors shaping their lives. The book leads from a strengths perspective when discussing Black men in Charlotte and beyond. In the preface, Carter challenges the reader to see Black men as agents for change in their own communities, and questions whether the “deficit/problem-based model lead[s] to much bigger problems.”
An agent for change, “Ten Men” provides a platform for celebrating Charlotte’s Black male leadership at the book launch and signing, September 19 in JCSU’s New Science Center atrium and auditorium. The book will also serve as the theme for Smith Institute’s main panel discussion during the annual symposium October 11, 2017 in Grimes Lounge.
“Ten Men” is available for pre-order online via JCSU’s site. Paperback copies will be sold on Amazon.com and in the JCSU bookstore. “Ten Men” will also be available digitally in Kindle, Nook, and iPad formats.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, September 19th 2017 at 5:27PM
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