Where's Marty? Learning more about the legacy of Carole Boston Weatherford's family in Maryland

Hi Everyone

How many people can say a relative taught Frederick Douglass to pray?

That bust of Douglass is at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park in Fells Point. It is part of Living Classrooms, and it was our setting for "WM?" today because of the lady to my left. (We thank Living Classrooms for the courtesy and will be back there for a "Where's Marty?' in December!)

That is Carole Weatherford. She is a Professor of Literature in North Carolina. She has written over 70 books.   She 2 NAACP Image Awards. She has 9 American Library Association Youth Media Awards. Her resume is much longer but let's say our guest this morning is up in "the rare air." And what a nice person. (The gentleman to my left is a Jeffery Monay, a cousin of Crole's who I will discuss in a moment.) 

   Carole has returned to her hometown, growing up in the Ashburton area, to tend to some family matters and lucky for us, we were able to have her come on to discuss her new book, "Kin, rooted in hope."

You see Caroles family on the Eastern Shore, and in Maryland, goes back to the late 1700's. They were enslaved in the Easton area, as were hundreds and hundreds of others. Her family were community leaders. Her family was self-educated.  Her family made a difference. And yes they knew the young Frederick Douglass. Her family roots on the Eastern Shore are large one's. Jeffery helped her research the old neighborhoods on the "Shore" and that helped trace some of those roots she did not completely know about. "Kin" is a book of poetry her favorite style of writing, though most of her books are not, and are aimed at kids. (Carole willl be quick to tell you that kids like poetry because of the smaller amount of words per page. (Remember she is a Professor of Literature!!) And through these poems a story of family, and state are told.

  The artwork in the book, and there are many pictures, was done by her son Jeffrey Weatherford. Stunning works of art that, to me, resembled woodcuttings. Some are kind, some are harsh, but all tell the story of the poem.

You can find Caroles' website here.  Check it out for more info on her, her work, and more. It was a joy to meet Carole Boston Weatherford. And I am sure those descendants of hers who live to tell a story of Maryland would be proud.

 Marty B!