Stacks of "The Class of '65" have been spotted at Costco stores in several cities, such as this one in Atlanta. (My friend Robert Coram sent this lovely still life.) When I think about warehouse stores, I think about their impressive array of paper goods: T.P., napkins, paper towels -- and now my book! I feel honored to be part of the lineup. Let's justify Costco's faith in the written word: If you need to stock up on staples at your favorite big box retailer, don't forget the reading material.
Yakety-yak
See that man with his mouth ajar? He sure has been talking a lot lately. In the past two weeks, Jim Auchmutey (otherwise known as "Authorus Blabberus") has given five talks about his new book, "The Class of '65," with many more to come. Switching to first person now: I'd like to thank the Atlanta Prime Timers (especially Richard Rhodes), the West End Rotary Club (special thanks to John Ingersoll), and the Georgia State University history department (ditto to Clifford Kuhn) for inviting me to speak, listening with genuine interest -- and for buying some books. I've added a Power Point slide show and am getting to where I hardly have to consult notes anymore. My wife and siblings have always known I like to talk, but this is getting downright Toastmasterish.
Memorable voices
One of the best pieces done about "The Class of '65" during its publication week was the radio show "Two Way Street," aired over Easter weekend on 17 stations of the Georgia Public Broadcasting network. Host Bill Nigut had the inspired idea of augmenting the usual author interview with comments from Tom Key, the Atlanta actor who wrote "The Cotton Patch Gospel" and has performed it for years. The musical is based on the writings of Clarence Jordan, the co-founder of Koinonia and a looming figure in the new book, whose "Cotton Patch" versions of the New Testament retold the gospel story in mid-20th century Georgia, starting with the birth of Jesus in Gainesville. They laid the babe, not in a manger, but in an apple crate. If you didn't hear it live, GPB has posted the program on its web site (link below). It's a fine introduction to Koinonia, the place that molded Greg Wittkamper and laid the foundation for the moral conflicts at the heart of "The Class of '65."
Only in Americus
"The Class of '65" returned home Thursday to Sumter County, Ga., where the story of race and reconciliation is set. Another overflow crowd came out to hear about the book, this time at the Lake Blackshear Regional Library in Americus. All four of the students who desegregated Americus High in 1964 came (shown here with Greg Wittkamper and Jim Auchmutey; they are, from left: David Bell, Robertiena Freeman Fletcher, Jewel Wise and Dobbs Wiggins). We were also pleased to see several of Greg's classmates, including David Morgan, who set the reconciliation in motion decades later when he planned their 40th reunion. David's copy of the 1965 yearbook provided most of the senior portraits used on the book cover. Our friends from Koinonia Farm came and handled book sales, and we saw many people from Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing, including Linda Fuller Degelmann, who helped found both organizations. It was heartwarming to see the strands of this story come together in one auditorium. Thanks to Anne Isbell and Jill Dalton Kloberdanz at the library -- and thank you, Americus.
An emotional evening
We had our first book event for "The Class of '65" last night at the Carter Library in Atlanta, and it couldn't have gone better. Some 250 people came, so many that they were sitting in the aisles and on the edge of the stage and in an overflow room with a remote video hookup. For a while, they were turning people away at the door (including a former editor of mine -- sorry about that!). After a generous introduction from Hank Klibanoff, I talked about the book and read a couple of excerpts, choking up at one point. But the best part was when the hero, Greg Wittkamper, came to the lectern and spoke about his experiences in high school. All these years later, he cried at some of the memories. We were pleased to see several people from the book in attendance: Lenny and Jan Jordan, children of Koinonia co-founder Clarence Jordan; Charles Browne, son of Koinonia stalwart Con Browne who drove all the way from West Virginia to be with us; Sam Mahone, one of the young activists who pushed for civil rights in Americus during the 1960s; Warren Fortson, a lawyer who worked for racial progress in Sumter County and was hounded for his efforts; and some of Greg's classmates, including Robertiena Freeman Fletcher, one of the first black students at Americus High and a bright, inspiring profile in courage herself. There was so much love and support in that room. What an evening. Thank you, Atlanta.