Beginning Friday, June 15th, Conversations Book Club and the state of Mississippi have been fortunate to spend time with author Teresa Rae Butler--- and what a weekend it has been!
The 35 year old author of "DON'T EVEN TRIP" and "GOD,I RESPECT YA GANGSTA" did not meet a stranger at any of the stops that were a part of her journey.
On Friday, the day began with lunch at the Subway in Pearl (3000 Hwy 80 E), where we were able to enjoy the company of the owners Dorothy and Chris Lawson. Afterwards we visited Waldenbooks Metrocenter where Pam and Andrea greeted us with open arms and excitement.
From there we travelled to Genesis and Light Center where Ms. Butler was able to share her story with the 30 or so youth that attend their summer program. After answering their questions and signing autographs we were off to the Richard Wright Library in South Jackson, talking with the teens that make up the Teen Time program.
The last stop of the day was at the Medgar Evers Library for our book club discussion. Ms. Butler had everyone's attention as she told of the trails of her life and how they molded her into the person she has not begun. "I truly believe that everything happens for a reason," she told the group. "Things we go through are necessary to make us who we are."
The two books that Butler was promoting on her visit to Mississippi are part one and two of a trilogy. Though she admits you don't have to read the books in order to get the story, she does feel as though one book will definitely spark your attention and make you want to know more.
Marketed as fiction, the author did reveal that a large part of the story she is telling is actually based on her own experiences. Just in her sharing with the group we learned about her journey through racism, abuse, neglect and just a true search for self. But there is more to the story.
"When my personal bagagage seemed to be too much, God let me know I had to let it all go in order to move forward," she told Conversations. That was where her writing and eventually the books we are now able to hold in our hands come from. "You have to decide in your life what really matters," is something she repeated throughout the day.
On Saturday, June 16th, we were at Medgar Evers Library again for BREAKFAST WITH BOOKS. The majority of those in attendance for this discussion were members of the Savvy Book Club, lead by Ms. Rose Wright of Jackson. From there it was on to Subway in Pearl for lunch and the finish of what was a powerful weekend.
On behalf of Conversations Book Club and the state of Mississippi we just want to say: Ms. Butler, we can't 'even trip'! Believe us, 'we respect ya mission' and you have made friends and fans for life.
For more information about Ms. Butler and when she will be in your area, click here.
3 comments:
I don't know where you got yours, but, HEY I FOUND THIS BOOK ON THE SHELF AT TARGET! It's also online at www.Target.com! This was our book club pick hands down! GREAT BOOK for the aftermath of the CIVIL RIGHTS movement. A MUST READ FOR ANY SOUTHERNER who is serious about books, but loves street reads like we do! It is a close hard look at how many of us are still enslaved in a modern way. This book has so many twists and turns, secrect messages, ghosts, reincarneted people, and even the dreams are phenominal that she makes any other book of this time come after hers. I'll tell you of my reasons why i feel so real about it. I really enjoyed teresa's fictional tale of that little mixed girl, Rainia dae Harris, growing up and going through racial hell caused by closed-eyed, still predjudiced whites and the ignorance-induced, deteriorating social morals of Blacks around her and the royalty that awaits them all through the gift of the poor people's lottery. The main interest that caught my eye was the spirit of GOD being in everything that had ever happened to her, and also the Billy Jacksin pimp asking Rainia for forgiveness in HEAVEN. O MY DEAR GOD! What a moment to read. I put this book down and cried several times. It is also ferociously funny and greatly evil. Billy Jacksin was so hateful towards white women because when he was a boy in the south, the white boys used to beat him half to death and drop him off in front of his home. When he had had enough he left for up north as a teen headed for, Milwaukee, WI, stole a dead, white man's identity and became a cold blooded demon! Too bad he had to violate the Queen to Come. I like the idea of floating Cadillacs in space and the idea of being in charge of our own destiny despite adversity. The characters in her book are unforgettable and i do look forward to part three. I read this book in one day and it is the book that i have always waited for my whole entire life. I would like to nominate it 'book of the year,' century, or anything possible. Anyone else know how we can get this author's title to the proper recognition that it so rightfully deserves? Email me. Peace-out~eh bay-bay? it's me- Big Kat.
HEY I FOUND THIS BOOK ON THE SHELF AT TARGET! GREAT BOOK for the aftermath of the CIVIL RIGHTS movement. It is a close hard look at how many of us are still enslaved in a modern way. I really enjoyed teresa's fictional tale of that little mixed girl, Rainia dae Harris, growing up and going through racial hell caused by closed-eyed whites and the deteriorating social morals of Blacks around her and the royalty that awaits them all through the gift of the poor people's lottery. The characters in her bok are unforgettable and i do look forward to part three. I read this book in one day and it is the book that i have always waited for.
Big Kat,
I agree with you so far. We just had Ms. Butler with us in Mississippi, and so we hope that after we have read the book that we will be able to get her back for a discussion, either in person or on the phone.
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