Queens Public Library hosts several speakers this month
BY BILL PARRY
Queens Public Library is hosting
several events in the next few weeks
that should be of interest to many.
In a conversation moderated by
QPL’s Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph
McDaniels, Korey Wise will share his
experiences as one of the exonerated
Central Park Five on Monday, Nov. 18
at 6 p.m. at Central Library, located at
89-11 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica.
Wise will discuss his incarceration
and life after prison, while also creating
an opportunity for attendees who
have been incarcerated or have family
members who have been incarcerated
to share their struggles and how they
cope with their feelings.
Wise was 16 when he, along with
four other teenagers, was falsely accused
of brutally attacking and sexually
assaulting a female jogger in Central
Park in 1989. His conviction was
overturned in 2002, after he served 12
years in prison.The event will be held
as part of the QPL’s annual “It’s Time
for Kind” campaign, which promotes
kindness.
Those interested in attending can
get free tickets here.
QPL will also host an author talk
with historian David W. Blight about
his 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of
Korey Wise of the exonerated Central Park 5 will share his experiences Nov. 18 at
Central Library in Jamaica. Photo via Anne Hollande-Ullerup/Flickr
Freedom on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.
at the Flushing Library. During the
event, which is being held in partnership
with the Lewis Latimer House
Museum, Blight will discuss what
prompted him to pursue the story of
Frederick Douglass, who escaped enslavement
and became one of the leading
orators, abolitionists, and writers
of his era.
The conversation will also touch
upon Douglass’s involvement in the
fight to free George Latimer — who
was arrested after he escaped from
slavery. Latimer’s struggle for freedom
became a pivotal case for the abolitionist
movement in Massachusetts.
QPL president and CEO Dennis
M. Walcott will introduce Blight
and Hugh Price, the great nephew
of Lewis Latimer and member of
the Lewis Latimer House Museum
Advisory Council, will give opening
remarks. Flushing Library is
located at 41-17 Main St. and those
interested in attending can get free
tickets here.
And finally, the popular Let’s Talk
Democracy 2019 lecture series will be
wrapping up at the Forest Hills Library
led by Professor Michael Krasner of
Queens College. The series has focused
on the benefits and vulnerabilities of
democracies in the modern world and
highlights those that are under attack
today.
“Professor Krasner is charismatic,
clear and articulate and he really responds
well to people’s questions,” Janic
Gillespie, Ph. D. said. “On Wednesday,
Nov. 13 we will discuss the things
we can do to increase the strength
of our democracy, and the following
Thursday, Nov. 21 we will bring together
a group of Queens-based nonprofit
social activists to discuss ways people
can get civically involved in the Democratic
process.”
The lecture and Q&A sessions go
from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Forest Hills
Library located at 108-19 71st Ave.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
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