NYC & DC Readings This Week
First, sorry that I have barely been blogging of late. The combination of coming off of sabbatical, having a new book come out, and being down with the flu three times in 45 days has really slowed me.
But to prove I'm still alive, I will be reading in NYC and DC/Maryland this week:
Manhattan
Wednesday, February 28, 2006, 7pm
Book Talk: Mat Johnson presents The Great Negro Plot
In 1741, a young indentured servant claimed to have information about a black conspiracy against the white people of Manhattan. This news threw the city into a violent uproar; while some citizens took their anger out on innocent victims, others questioned the truth behind the accusation. Join us as author Mat Johnson reconstructs this dramatic moment in history - one that still reverberates today. Free ($5 suggested donation). Melville Gallery (213 Water Street between Fulton & Beekman). For more information call 212.748.8568.
Prince George County
The Great Negro Plot: An Urban Historical
Thursday, March 1 7 pm Oxon Hill Branch
In 1741, New York City was thrown into an uproar when a sixteen-year-old Mary Burton, a white indentured servant, testified that she was privy to a conspiracy against the white people of Manhattan. Authorities promised her freedom if she would uncover the plot. Mary reported that the black men of the city were planning to burn New York City to the ground. As the courts ensnared suspects and violence swept the city, 154 black New Yorkers were jailed, 14 were burned alive, 18 were hanged and more than 100 simply disappeared. Four whites wound up being executed and 24 imprisoned. Even as the madness escalated, however, officials started to realize that Mary Burton might not be telling the truth. The Great Negro Plot is a brilliant reconstruction of a little-known moment in American history that reverberates today. Expertly written by the acclaimed author of Drop and Hunting in Harlem, Mat Johnson currently teaches at Bard College.
If you're in the area, come out and say hi. I will be extremely grateful. To the point of embarrassing both of us.
Best,
MJ
8 Comments:
Mat!
Unfortunately I'm back in Jamaica finishing the last draft (I hope) of this f#$%^ing book! Do you have any more readings/NYC visits planned? And at the risk of sounding jurassic what does tagging mean exactly? I'm not sure I understand even though I have used the term.q
Marlon
Alas, it is not to be. Next time.
Tag:
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
1 : a game in which the player who is it chases others and tries to touch one of them who then becomes it
2 : an act or instance of tagging a runner in baseball
hey mat - new fan here - halfway through the great negro plot and would LOVE to come to the pg county reading, but have a conflict. hope to catch your next dc area reading.
Mat, I am so excited and ready for tonight, I don't even think I know how amped I am yet.
P.S.
I don't know if you still watch LOST or have somewhere to watch it tonight, or are jetting back up to Bard right after the reading, but if you do, you're welcome to watch it with me and my parents. HDTV, I don't know if you know, but it makes LOST a thousand times more fun.
Okay, those last two sentences should be enough for the grammar police to revoke my degree from Bard as well my High School diploma. What I meant to say was - and I don't think you need it spelled out for you as much as I need to prove that I can write in a literate manner - if you need a place in NYC to watch tonight's Hurley flashback episode, then you're welcome to watch with me.
Yes, I will definitely be attending your reading in Oxon Hill this evening. Peace~
Guys,
Thank you so much for coming out and supporting, and making for some great evenings. I really appreciate it. It also is just damn great to see and talk to you all.
Best,
Mat
I am just now reading this post and am sad that my sister (who loves your work as much as I do) missed the DC/Maryland signing/reading. She lives in the area. Looking forward to reading the new book.
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