Elayne Bond Hyman is a writer, poet, and oral historian. She grew up in Pittsburgh in the 1940s and 50s. From an early age her parents encouraged her to spell and read aloud believing that these skills would help her “survive in a literate white world.” Inspired by her Black and Indigenous heritage, she describes her work today as “I use language to give witness to the fact of my existence and also to record the herstory of lives lived before my time, especially those who were silenced and now wish to be heard.”

Elayne will speak on her experience as well as her research on historic Black communities in our region which inspired her original works such as They Came Across the South Mountain and Catoctin SlaveSpeak.

This program is a part of NEA Big Read with Sandy Spring Museum.

We will try our hardest to provide accommodations so people of all abilities can take part in this event. For interpretation and other accommodation requests please contact [email protected] or call 301-774-0022 at least two-weeks prior to the event you plan to attend.