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K-State Today

October 26, 2012

Speaking the Silences: Women and Race in Kansas History

Submitted by Karin Westman

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Join the K-State Book Network for conversation about women and race in Kansas history from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in Hale Library Hemisphere Room.

The event, "Speaking the Silences: Women and Race in Kansas History," is inspired by Rebecca Skloot’s book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," the 2012 K-State Book Network selection. In her book, Skloot gives voice to an otherwise silent history about Henrietta Lacks.

Faculty participants include Sue Zschoche, associate professor of history, and M.J. Morgan, adjunct professor of history and history lab director for the Chapman Center for Rural Studies. Student participants include Katy Goerl, former Chapman Center intern and current graduate student in history.

Together, they will share faculty and student research on such topics as medical care and practices of the pre-1950 Manhattan-Junction City area African-American populations and women teachers in Kansas one-room schoolhouses. Discussion will follow the brief presentations.

“Our theme is why it is so important to speak the silences, to tell the stories — the role of both investigative journalists and historians,” Morgan said.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the event, contact ksbn@k-state.edu. For more information about the K-State Book Network and its 2012 selection, visit http://www.k-state.edu/ksbn/.