Toni Morrison’s Beloved and the Lived Experiences of Black Floridians in the 1800s

In observance of Black History Month, please join us at the State Library at the R.A. Gray Building for a discussion of Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved and its connections to the lived experiences of Black Floridians before and after emancipation. In addition to the talk, original archival records illustrating these connections will be on display. Beloved, tells the story of Sethe, an enslaved woman who escapes from Kentucky to Ohio, but only at unfathomable costs to herself and her family.   The trauma of Sethe’s experiences haunts her even in freedom and complicates the relationships she has with her children and her community. While Beloved is set in Ohio and Kentucky, many of the characters’ stories resonate strongly with the actual experiences of Black Americans in all parts of the South. This exhibit uses resources from the State Archives of Florida and the State Library of Florida to explore some of the main themes from Beloved as they played out in real life in our state, especially in the vicinity of Tallahassee and Leon County.    This hybrid event is free and open to the public. No reservation is required. The In-Person presentation will take place at the R.A. Gray Building, 500 S Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL 32399    John Grandage has worked for the Florida Department of State since 2011. During that time, he has served as Historian for the Florida Memory Program, as Executive Director of The Grove Museum, and currently is Director of Public Engagement & Historic Site Development for the Division of Historical Resources.   In Person attendees: Free parking will be available in the parking garage just past the R.A. Gray Building on the right; enter from Bronough Street.   Virtual attendees: Register on Zoom:  https://zoom.us/j/95069097218