Janis F. Kearney, author and former presidential diarist for Bill Clinton, will celebrate the release of her book about the life of civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28.
The book launch will take place at the Daisy Bates Home and Museum located at 1207 W. 28th Street in Little Rock.
The book titled, “Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” is based on numerous interviews Kearney conducted with Bates during her lifetime. She recreates her conversations and interviews to “fill in” places, incidents, and experiences.
The event will include a reception and remarks from community members including Dr. John Kirk of the UALR History Department, Priscilla McChristian of the UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity, and Adjoa A. Aiyetoro, of the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law.
The book covers Bates’ childhood; her life with husband and fellow activist, L.C. Bates; her non-traditional role as co-publisher of their award winning newspaper, the Arkansas State Press; and her leadership role at a time, and place when women were rarely in such positions.
Kearney, who took over ownership of the State Press from 1988 to 1997, uses Daisy’s words to take a “look back” at her life, and…finally, a self-analysis of how, and possibly, why she became the Daisy Gatson Bates for which she is known throughout the world.
The UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity Department and the UALR Department of History are sponsors of the event.
For more events around the state, see our Community Calendar.
