What is East Lansing's One Book, One Community? The annual One Book, One Community program, co-sponsored by the City of East Lansing and Michigan State University, encourages the city-university community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings.
OBOC Announces 2014 Selections The City of East Lansing and Michigan State University announce the 2014 OBOC program, featuring three voices on race in America. This year, OBOC is offering students and community members a "menu" of literary and cinematic works, including:
- The graphic novel, “March Book One” by U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, is a vivid, first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights. On Monday, Aug. 25 at the OBOC kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. Lewis will discuss his experiences as a key figure of the Civil Rights movement and sign books. He will be joined by co-author Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell. Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is first come, first seated.
NEW! The event with Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell is now available online @ http://new.livestream.com/msualumni/MarchBookOne courtesy of the MSU Alumni Association and Video Professionals. In addition, the visit will be rerun on East Lansing’s government channel and made available to borrow on DVD. The recording will be rerun on Sundays and Mondays at noon and 8 p.m. from Aug. 31- Sept. 29 on East Lansing government Channel 22 (WELG). The recording will also be made available to borrow at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road, beginning Friday, Aug. 29.
- The film, “Fruitvale Station” by director Ryan Coogler, is based on a true story of a 22-year-old black man who was killed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer on a subway platform in Oakland, Calif. On Tuesday, Sept. 2, screenwriter and director Ryan Coogler will discuss his film “Fruitvale Station,” at a special event at 7 p.m. at the Kellogg Center Auditorium. Admission is first come, first seated. It’s free. *A number of free public film showings will take place in East Lansing and the MSU campus.
- The memoir, “The Grace of Silence” by award-winning journalist and NPR contributor Michele Norris, explores her family's racial legacy and discusses how America talks about race. On Monday, Sept. 15, NPR contributor and award-winning journalist Michele Norris will speak about her memoir and "Race Card" project, and will sign books at 7:30 p.m. at the Wharton Center as part of the World View Lecture Series. Tickets can be purchased online for $20 (general public) and are free to MSU faculty and students.
Project 50/60 The OBOC program is coordinated in conjunction with MSU’s year-long Project 60/50, which commemorates the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision and the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Community Events A series of community and campus events are planned around the themes of the struggle for racial equality. The 2014 calendar will be updated as the program is announced in the coming weeks.
Contact Us If you have any questions about this year's program or would like to share ideas about future book selections, please email OBOC Coordinator Mandie Maxwell @ onebook@msu.edu.
© 2010 City of East Lansing & MSU