Spring Break
Panelists, audience discuss North Texas race relations
Elizabeth Knighten
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: NEWS
NT's Fine Arts Series presented a panel lecture "1808-2008: What's next? (Race Relations in North Texas)" Thursday in the University Union.
The discussion included four guest speakers: Bernestine Singley, Willie Hudspeth, Lee Martin and Zoe Charlton.
"Our purpose today is not only to illuminate the creative work of four people who utilize, explore and examine the idea of race but to realize how the visual and literary art can work as agents for change," said Ann Graham, NT visual resource curator. "Today you will be enlightened, inspired and provoked."
The panel discussion began with a reading from Lee Martin.
"Provocative, insightful and context - I think I'm the context person because I happened to write a novel called 'Quakertown' which is based very loosely upon the true story of the community of Quakertown that once existed in Denton," said Lee Martin, professor and director of creative writing at Ohio State University and author of "Quakertown." Martin was first inspired by the story of Quakertown because of a man named Henry Taylor, a famous gardener who once lived in Quakertown.
"I was drawn to the story of Quakertown for two reasons, one is I was trying to come to terms with these issues of what it means to call a place home, and two, I was really interested in the story of Henry Taylor, who could make anything grow anywhere," Martin said.
While Martin's novel is not based on the life of Taylor, he was inspired to create a main character whose gift in life is gardening.
"There was something about the juxtaposition between the beauty of these gardens that Henry Taylor created and the ugliness of the racial climate that was swirling all around, at that time that really caught my imagination" Martin said.
Martin read excerpts from "Quakertown" and followed the reading with questions.
Willie Hudspeth, Denton businessman and civil rights activist, was the next to speak.
"They [the fine arts department] mentioned that these different speakers will be saying different things to you that will cause you to think - I promise you, you will have a reaction to me," Hudspeth said.
The discussion included four guest speakers: Bernestine Singley, Willie Hudspeth, Lee Martin and Zoe Charlton.
"Our purpose today is not only to illuminate the creative work of four people who utilize, explore and examine the idea of race but to realize how the visual and literary art can work as agents for change," said Ann Graham, NT visual resource curator. "Today you will be enlightened, inspired and provoked."
The panel discussion began with a reading from Lee Martin.
"Provocative, insightful and context - I think I'm the context person because I happened to write a novel called 'Quakertown' which is based very loosely upon the true story of the community of Quakertown that once existed in Denton," said Lee Martin, professor and director of creative writing at Ohio State University and author of "Quakertown." Martin was first inspired by the story of Quakertown because of a man named Henry Taylor, a famous gardener who once lived in Quakertown.
"I was drawn to the story of Quakertown for two reasons, one is I was trying to come to terms with these issues of what it means to call a place home, and two, I was really interested in the story of Henry Taylor, who could make anything grow anywhere," Martin said.
While Martin's novel is not based on the life of Taylor, he was inspired to create a main character whose gift in life is gardening.
"There was something about the juxtaposition between the beauty of these gardens that Henry Taylor created and the ugliness of the racial climate that was swirling all around, at that time that really caught my imagination" Martin said.
Martin read excerpts from "Quakertown" and followed the reading with questions.
Willie Hudspeth, Denton businessman and civil rights activist, was the next to speak.
"They [the fine arts department] mentioned that these different speakers will be saying different things to you that will cause you to think - I promise you, you will have a reaction to me," Hudspeth said.
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