Performance of Harriet Tubman bio
AMHERST – The Amherst Town Library presents the living history performance of Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti portraying Harriet Tubman in "I Can’t Die But Once – Harriet Tubman’s Civil War" on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Main Reading Room.
This program is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council and is the second program of the adult summer series at the Library called Minds Wide Awake.
Quezaire-Presutti’s characterization of Harriet Tubman is a well-researched biography about the remarkable life of an enduring warrior. As Harriet Tubman, she weaves a tale of truth, pain, courage, and determination in the quagmire of racial exploitation.
The United States Government enlisted Tubman as a scout and spy for the Union cause and she battled courageously behind enemy lines during the Civil War. But Tubman is best known for her role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Though she is one of the most famous women in our nation’s history, we have come to know her in life through fictionalized biographies written for children. Quezaire- Presutti separates reality from myth to reconstruct a richer and far more accurate historical account of Tubman’s life. And affirming her important role in American History, Harriet Tubman has been in the news recently as the top choice for her image being on a new series of $20 bills.
Quezai re-Presut t i studied under Professor Lloyd Barbee at the University of Wisconsin and has been a committed scholar of African- American Studies, in particular women of color. She is dedicated to studying the character, philosophy, courage and grace that have helped black American women survive and flourish.
She is listed on the performing artist roster, artist-in-residence at the Connecticut Arts for Learning, and Nassau BOCES Arts in Education. In recognition of the quality and range of her work, she received The Institute of Texan Cultures Director’s Award for Excellence, The Greater Hartford Arts Council/the Boston Fund Individual Artist Fellowship, first place in the International Toastmaster Award competition for Interpretive Reading, and crowned Ms. Senior Connecticut 2010.
This event and all programs in the summer long series Minds Wide Awake are free and open to the public. However, registration is required for each program due to space limitations.
Other upcoming programs for adults in the Minds Wide Awake series include: "A Night of Old- Time String Music and Song" on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m.; "Iran: Persian Glory and Islamic Revolution" on Wednesday, July 22 at 7 p.m.; "Hiking the John Muir Trail" on Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m.; and, "Mindful Eating with Chef Liz Barbour" on Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m.
You can register for all these events by calling 673-2288, emailing library@amherstlibrary. org or by visiting our website at www.amherstlibrary.org/and selecting the "Community Services" tab, then click on drop down "Sign-Up for Programs."