A Good Conversation

*Edit* To prevent any further confusion, while I was in the audience, I took the picture above of Gwen Ifill on the left interviewing Charlayne Hunter-Gault on the right.

Tuesday evening, my mother and I attended the first of the Fall 2007 Kennedy Library Forums at the JFK Library, which is just a few minutes from my house. I do love being surrounded by so much Presidential history in my neck of the woods.


Gwen Ifill, who hosts Washington Week on PBS, had a conversation with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who in 1962, was the first black woman to graduate from the University of Georgia. Although she is fairly young, she is living history. Her memoir, In My Place, tells the story of that time in her life.



Hunter-Gault's new book is called New News Out Of Africa: Uncovering Africa's Renaissance. She spoke about how she is trying to change the conversation about Africa. In the news, we often see so much about the death, destruction, and despair of Africa. But that is not the whole story. There is much beauty, hope, new industry and possibility. She spends a great deal of time travelling all over Africa and is also trying to make Americans more knowledgeable of the continent. She said that most people are familiar with South Africa and focus on that one country.



She even mentioned Matt Damon. She said that she saw Damon in South Africa and encouraged him to travel to different parts of Africa and maybe make a movie there and to encourage his friends too. Hunter-Gault also let it be known that she had been summering on the Vineyard and had been to many interesting dinner parties. You know me. I had to wonder what they ate.

Oh and a big thank you to the gentleman who was so nice to my mom! My mom sprained her ankle and broke her foot, so she is wearing a big boot and cannot get around very well. When we were leaving, she stayed out front and I got my car and drove up to get her. When I pulled up next to her and reached over to open the door, a very nice man opened the car door, so she could get in. Then he closed it after she sat down. All done with a smile. Sometimes people are really nice! Thank you sir!


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