One Minneapolis One Read | The book is "The Grace of Silence" by Minneapolis native and National Public Radio host Michele Norris. This memoir describes the experience of the Norris' as the first black family on their block in a south Minneapolis neighborhood. Norris also details her discovery of race-based family secrets. In her research for the book, Norris learned that her father, upon his return from service in WWII, had been shot by a Birmingham police officer.

Events

April 13, 2012 (MINNEAPOLIS) The Minneapolis City Council today approved “Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past,” as the next One Minneapolis One Read book. This will be the second year of the citywide “read,” where the entire community is encouraged to read a single book and join in a community conversation. The community read will launch fall 2012.

“Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past,” was written by Minnesotan Diane Wilson. Wilson grew up in a Minneapolis suburb and then followed questions about her family’s past to South Dakota and Nebraska, where she tracked down information about her maternal relatives through five generations. The result of Wilson’s quest for discovery is “Spirit Car,” a book of vignettes she created in her desire to honor the lives of her Dakota Indian family. The story of Wilson’s family begins with a vivid account of the 1862 Dakota War in Minnesota and then follows her family members’ nomadic travels across South Dakota and Nebraska in their struggle to survive.

Readers can find additional information about the book and resources about the Dakota War through the Minnesota Historical Society Press website and at www.usdakotawar.org. Click here for a reading and discussion guide prepared by the Minnesota Book Awards/The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.

Read about the selection of “Spirit Car” in the Star Tribune:

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/147369045.html.

About

The City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Schools are promoting literacy and respectful public dialogue in this initiative. Minneapolis residents can play a positive role in their communities and explore important – sometimes difficult – issues that they face as a community by reading “Spirit Car” and getting involved.

At its heart, One Minneapolis One Read is a community-driven effort with individuals, neighborhood groups, educators, businesses and nonprofits all coming together to make this a truly citywide read.

The first-ever One Minneapolis One Read took place during 2011 – 2012 and brought a shared experience of reading the same book to folks all over Minneapolis including students at Minneapolis Public Schools, patrons of Hennepin County libraries, and businesses and residents all over the city. The book selected for the first community read, “The Grace of Silence,” was written by NPR host and Minneapolis native Michele Norris. The memoir describes the experience of the Norrises as the first black family on the block in a south Minneapolis neighborhood in the 1960s. Norris and MPR News host Kerri Miller kicked off One Minneapolis One Read last fall with a spectacular discussion at the Guthrie Theater; then a parade of community events offered opportunities for every Minneapolis resident to join in this community conversation around a single book.

People started conversations where they live and work with family, friends, coworkers or neighbors. Minneapolis residents generated a host of their own ideas for how to be a part of One Minneapolis One Read. South High students created a display and chatted by Skype with the author. Word of the community read spread all over the city in a variety of ways from word of mouth, book clubs, events and author visits to posters on city buses, digital billboards, bookmarks and rebroadcast of events.

Participate

For more information and to get involved, visit www.OneMinneapolisOneRead.com, www.facebook.com/OneMinneapolisOneRead, www.twitter.com/minneapolisread or email oneread@minneapolismn.gov.

Check back this fall for a toolkit of ideas.

The Book

“Spirit Car” is published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. The book can be checked out or downloaded from Hennepin County Library. To reserve a copy of or download the book, go to the library’s website and enter the book title in the Search Catalog box. The book is also available at Twin Cities bookstores, popular e-book retailers and Minnesota Historical Society Press.

For more on the book, visit the author’s website: http://www.wilsonwords.com/

Partners