Author John Ketwig shows off Betsy Biesenbach's book

Black History in Roanoke: A Book for Kids

Veteran journalist/author Betsy Biesenbach made a fascinating presentation at the Vinton Library based on her new self-published book "Say My Name: The story of Amanda Jeffers."

Amanda was an enslaved little girl in Roanoke as the Civil War split our nation in 1860 and Betsy has based a children's book--fictionalized, but mostly factual--on Amanda's experiences in an area geographically removed from the war, but heavily laden with slavery.

Betsy chats with one of her book's fans

Betsy had some astonishing facts about slavery in the Valley and the families that owned the land and the 2,300 or so slaves running their farms (one adult male slave could be assigned as much as 200 acres to farm for the white owners). 

This is a book that doesn't make white people look so noble, so don't be surprised if the Roanoke County School Board bans it from its school libraries (in fact, I suggested to Betsy that she seek the ban because it would likely intensify her sales. The people in the crowd laughed, knowingly).

Betsy is crusading at this point to get a statue of Amanda raised in the Raleigh Court area, where she lived (and where Betsy lives). Apparently, the Raleigh Court Library has shown little interest in this story and in enshrining it in Roanoke area lore, as Roanoke did recently with Henrietta Lacks, assigning a sculptor to create a statue of her in Lax Plaza downtown, at some considerable expense.

 Recognizing Black history in the Valley is a good thing--about time--and one that is earning some degree of deserved interest.

Betsy's book, illustrated by her friend Judy Nelson, is available on Amazon for $10. The money earned from sales will go toward making Black history more accessible in the Valley, says Betsy (who is white, by the way).

 

Two crusty old men; two beautiful, smart, accomplished blondes. From left: Debbie Seagle, Bill Kovarik, Sam Seidel, and me.

The Fabric of a Golden Day

There are days in our lives that stick with us, form us, give us warm and important memories, go to our essence, and stay there.

Today was one of those days for me.

It began with Bill Kovarik's journalism class at Radford University where I was a guest participant (I won't say "lecturer" because I don't lecture; I prefer interactive discussion). 

It was a small class of students serious about journalism and because it was interactive, it was stimulating for me. I hope it was for the students.

I didn't know Sam was joining us and when she photo-bombed Elbert and me, I was thrilled. 

The day continued through a tour of Radford's state-of-the-art communications department (Bill, Debbie and I had some fun with the TV set) and finished with Bill, me, Debbie Seagle and my long-time hero Samantha Steidle having lunch at a restaurant, then Bill, Debbie and I soaking up coffee and the marvels of being alive at a coffee shop in downtown Radford on a beautiful pre-spring day.

I occasionally mention golden days in reminiscence and February 21, 2023, will be among the purest gold in the future. I love outgoing, caring, responsible, intelligent people and was surrounded by them today, whether we were talking about artificial intelligence, journalistic ethics, or using portable toilets to predict construction investment for the spring building season. 

Debbie and I as the perfect 6 O'Clock News talking heads.

We discovered that Bill and Debbie had military backgrounds (without actually being in the military) and that each had been assigned to U.S. embassies in foreign countries. What a discussion that prompted. 

Sam is always a wealth of knowledge about a whole array of topics, but mostly about making young people successful people. She is a live wire and her influence is broad and deep. Especially with me.

It was an almost perfect mix of personalities, experiences, eager discussion, and talking/listening in equal measure.

Golden day? Yep. And I want more.

Bill and me: Camera dudes.