Award-Winning Journalist examines her racial roots and long-held family secrets

Michele Norris, co-host of NPR’S All Things Considered, examines her racial roots and long-held family secrets in new book, “The Grace of Silence”

 

Encourages Communities of Color to Participate in 2010 National Day of Listening (www.nationaldayoflistening.org) on Friday, November 26th — The Day After Thanksgiving

“How well do you really know the people that raised you? Have you captured their history? Do you fully understand YOUR legacy?”

“The Grace of Silence is an insightful, elegant rendering of how the history of an American family illuminates the history of our country.” –- Toni Morrison

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) — The Terrie Williams Agency is pleased to announce that award-winning journalist, Michele Norris, has joined its roster of purpose-driven talent.

Most will know Norris’s name from her exceptional journalism career. She has served as a correspondent for ABC News, and has reported for the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times on education, poverty, and numerous other social issues. She is a frequent guest on Meet the Press and The Chris Matthews Show. And her voice is heard by millions every weekday as co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered. Last year, Norris was named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists.

In The Grace of Silence (Pantheon Book/Sept. 21), Norris confronts hard truths about her own family’s racial history that had been left unsaid by her parents – from her grandmother’s work as an itinerant Aunt Jemima peddling pancake mix to her father’s shooting by the Birmingham police within weeks of his discharge from service in World War II.

Norris kicked off a 35-city book tour on Sept. 21. October dates/locations include:

WASHINGTON, DC: Tuesday, October 12, 7:00 PM, Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW.

PHILADELPHIA: Thursday, October 14, 7:30 PM–Philadelphia Free Library, 1901 Vine Street.

AUSTIN: Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16 — Friday Evening, Texas Book Festival, Opening Night Gala — 2:45 PM (Sat). Texas Book Festival with Isabel Wilkerson. C-Span Tent.

ANN ARBOR: Monday, October 18, 7:00 PM, Border’s Books, 612 E Liberty.

IOWA CITY: Friday, October 22, 7:00 PM, Prairie Lights Bookstore at the Public Library, 123 South Linn Street.

Norris is also encouraging families, particularly of those of color, to participate in the 2010 National Day of Listening (www.nationaldayoflistening.org) by recording family stories on, Friday November 26th, the day after Thanksgiving. Participants are also invited to share their story on the “Your Stories” link at www.michele-norris.com.