Lewis coordinates One Maryland One Book, a statewide reading program. The Maryland Humanities Council selects one book each year for Marylanders to read and discuss at community meetings statewide. This year, the council chose James McBride’s “Song Yet Sung,” a story of escaped slaves, free blacks and slave catchers set on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the 1850s. To get involved with a discussion group or to learn more about the program, visit onemarylandonebook.org.
How are the books chosen?
Each year we solicit title suggestion from the public. A group from the humanities council then comes together and looks at the proposed titles and makes a selection.
What criteria do they look for?
We first look for a broad general appeal that we feel will get as many people from the public interested in reading the book. We also look for books with a Maryland author or theme and then narrow it down further to books tied to the directives of the humanity council. Every two years we have a special initiative, and right now it’s race relations, so that played into the choice of a “Song Yet Sung.”
Does the program hold a personal interest for you?
I really like the concept of how reading books can help bring communities together. People don’t spend a lot of their leisure time reading, and I think it’s a great thing to make to make time for. Then, when they’re finished reading, they come together as a community to discuss the issues described in the book.
How did you get involved?
The “one book” idea started in Seattle and has spread across the country, and when Maryland decided to get involved, I opted to be the coordinator. At a time when people barely talk to their neighbors, this program is a great way to break those walls down and get to know each other.
– Freeman Klopott
