Since Ossie Davis visited in February 2000, Cleveland Public Library (CPL) has introduced some of the most popular and profound writers of our time to Cleveland book lovers. The 2013-2014 season promises the same caliber of fascinating writers. The first program in the series, Young, American, and Muslim, begins on September 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium on East 6th Street and Superior Avenue, Cleveland.
“The Writers and Readers series offers everyone a chance to step outside of their daily lives and immerse themselves in the most discussed issues of our time by engaging with contemporary authors,” said Felton Thomas, Director of CPL. “From civil rights to religion to cultural differences and much more, Writers and Readers tackles these issues head on, through lectures, live discussions, and audience participation.”
The first program, “Young, American, and Muslim,” features three women authors and editors who will discuss what it means to be both a Muslim and an American, adding insights from the lens of their personal experiences. Panelists include:
· Zahra Suratwala: Author, editor, and co-founder of the I Speak for Myself series, including I Speak for Myself: American Women on Being Muslim; All-American: 45 American Men on Being Muslim; and Demanding Dignity: Young Voices From the Front Lines of the Arab Revolutions.
· Nura Maznavi: Co-editor of Love, InshAllah; has deep roots in the field of international human rights and advocacy; civil rights attorney and Fullbright Scholar who works with national advocacy organizations aimed at ending racial and religious profiling.
· Huda Al-Marashi: Contributor to Love, InshAllah; an Iraqi-American at work on a memoir about the impact of her dual-identity on her marriage, with excerpts forthcoming in the anthologies Becoming and In Her Place; her poem, “TV Terror”, is a part of a touring exhibit commemorating the Mutanabbi Street Bombing in Baghdad.
All Writers & Readers series programs are free and open to the public. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Books by the panelists will be available for sale at the event. For the complete lineup of the 2013-2014 Writers & Readers season, visit: cpl.org/writersandreaders.
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