Join Emmanuel’s Anti-Racism Project for a talk by author Thom Shipley!

From Rob Wood, convener of ARP:

“Thom Shipley is hale and hearty, lives in Bolton Hill and next month turns 91.  I came across him as the President of the Shipleys of Maryland (Adam Shipley came from England to America in the 1600s and eventually spawned a large family organization), an office my wife Lucy, whose mother was a Shipley, had occupied years ago.  But what caught my eye was that he had written a book when well in his 80s called “Racism Then and Now.”  In this book he starts by describing his rural MD upbringing in which he was raised in part by a black daughter of former slaves who came to work on his grandmother’s family farm at age 15.  Her name is “Bessie” and she helps with Thom’s mother’s childbirth and, eventually as well, his own and his two brothers.  She was a dear and important member of the family.  She was “Our Bessie,” “My Bessie.” But it was very hard for him when the family was gathered at the table, Bessie was not allowed to eat with them.  This becomes a lifelong mystery and obsession as to how this could be.  When he retired several years ago to do some writing he started with this as his subject in “Racism Then and Now.”  And for us with ARP this becomes our starting point to explore with him where this obsession has taken him!”

More on Shipley’s book from the Bolton Hill Community Association