It was
practically standing room only last Thursday evening when local award-winning
author Kristen Green discussed her book, Something
Must be Done about Prince Edward County.
Her book tells the story of a Virginia community that defied the Supreme
Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
When ordered by a Federal Court to desegregate the public schools in
1959, white leaders in Prince Edward County instead chose to close them. The public schools would remain shut for five
years, depriving hundreds of black children – and some white children – of an
education.
The
author, who grew up in Prince Edward County, shared how she explored her own
past while researching her book.
Attendees at the book event reported feeling inspired by Ms. Green’s
talk, learning something about a painful side of Virginia’s past as she mixed
history and current events. At the
conclusion of the program, a long line formed in the lobby to get copies of the
book autographed.
Prior to
her talk in Lipman Auditorium, selected students from the Advance College
Academy and their teachers, along with students from a variety of Reynolds’
classes, had a chance to dine with the author and ask questions that they had
prepared based on their reading of Green’s book.
