Join us to discuss Washington Black by Esi Edugyan. George Washington Black, or "Wash," an 11-year-old field slave on a Barbados sugar plantation, is terrified to be chosen by his master's brother as his manservant. To his surprise, the eccentric Christopher Wilde turns out to be a naturalist, explorer, inventor, and abolitionist. Soon Wash is initiated into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky, where even a boy born in chains may embrace a life of dignity and meaning--and where two people, separated by an impossible divide, can begin to see each other as human. But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash's head, Christopher and Wash must abandon everything. What follows is their flight along the eastern coast of America, and, finally, to a remote outpost in the Arctic. What brings Christopher and Wash together will tear them apart, propelling Wash even further across the globe in search of his true self. Listen here to an insightful interview by Fresh Air's Terry Gross with Esi Edugyan on Washington Black. NOTE: Limited guest parking is available in the RiverWest garage. Register your car in the building lobby. There’s also a pay lot on the woonerf between the Abiitan and Mill City Quarter buildings (on the back side of RiverWest) that’s available for public parking from 6-10 pm Mon-Fri. Note that the parking meters are not owned by the city and the city parking app can NOT be used with them. Pay at the station in the lot.
The MCC Evening Book Club usually meets on the first Tuesday of every other month. Upcoming gatherings are on September 3 and November 5.