Aug. 6, 2008

The Michigan Center for the Book today announced that a Michigan Literary Landmark will be dedicated Saturday, Aug. 16, in honor of noted African American writers Charles Chesnutt, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois, all of whom spent much time at Idlewild during the peak of their careers.

Known as the "Black Eden" of the 20th century and a beloved resort spot for many African Americans - including Chesnutt, Hurston, Hughes and Du Bois - Idlewild offered writers and entertainers a unique, creative place for culture and thought to blossom in, at that time, one of the few locations where African Americans were welcome to vacation and relax.

"It is right and fitting that Idlewild - with its richness of character and abundance of creative 20th-century talents - should receive a Michigan Literary Landmark," said Dr. William Anderson, director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries and chair of the Idlewild Centennial Commission. "We can't go back in time to experience what it was like to share stories and secrets with the likes of Chesnutt, Hurston, Hughes and Du Bois, but we can pay this honor to help preserve the memory of this historic community."

A public celebration of this honor is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Idlewild Historic Cultural Center, 7025 Broadway Ave., and the Idlewild Public Library, 413 E. Baldwin Road. The celebration will include:

At the Idlewild Historic Cultural Center:

12:30 p.m. - Reception with refreshments and music

1 p.m. - Keynote speaker Elizabeth Atkins, diversity expert, best-selling author of the novels "White Chocolate," "Dark Secret" and "Twilight," and member of the Idlewild Centennial Commission

1:30-2:15 p.m. - Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston readings and performances featuring Millard Porter, Ivy Riley, Aurora Harris and Dr. Gloria House

2:30-3:15 p.m. - Charles Waddell Chesnutt and W.E.B. Du Bois readings and performances featuring Albert M. Ward and William Reed

At the Idlewild Public Library:

3:45-4:15 p.m. - Literary Landmark plaque unveiling, featuring:
-Dr. Bill Anderson, director, Department of History, Arts and Libraries;
-Coffiann Hawthorne, deputy legal counsel and policy advisor, Office of Governor Granholm;
-Mabel Williams, Idlewild resident and historian;
-Susan Dooley, director, Idlewild Public Library; and
-Nancy Robertson, state librarian

4:15 p.m. - Desserts and tour of the Idlewild Public Library

Funding and planning for this Literary Landmark award and celebration has been provided by the Idlewild Public Library, Broadside Press, the Michigan Center for the Book and the Library of Michigan.

"It has been exciting for the Center for the Book to work with the Idlewild Public Library in pursuing this Literary Landmark," said Michigan Center for the Book coordinator Karren Reish. "Our collaboration and passion for the project have resulted in the creation of a truly engaging celebration, one I feel will capture the history and spirit of the Idlewild community."

The dedication of the Michigan Literary Landmark is just the latest in a series of positive developments happening in Idlewild. In 2007, Governor Granholm announced the Idlewild, Michigan Transformation Initiative, a partnership to "create jobs, build a thriving community and ensure a bright future for Idlewild." Later that year, she announced the creation of the Idlewild Centennial Commission to increase awareness of Michigan's cultural heritage and to support cultural economic development opportunities in the state. Learn more about these initiatives at www.michigan.gov/idlewild.

The Michigan Center for the Book works with Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) to locate and designate Michigan Literary Landmarks as part of FOLUSA's efforts to encourage the preservation of historic literary sites around the country. Previous years' Michigan Literary Landmarks have been designated in honor of Theodore Roethke (2004), a Saginaw writer and poet who won a 1954 Pulitzer Prize; John Voelker (2002), the Michigan judge who wrote "Anatomy of a Murder;" and Dudley Randall (2001), the founder of Broadside Press and a Detroit poet laureate.

The Michigan Center for the Book is a program of the Library of Michigan. The program seeks to promote an awareness of books, reading, literacy, authors and Michigan's literary heritage, drawing on the resources of the Library of Michigan and its affiliate organizations and working cooperatively with many organizations to develop programming. Its affiliates include 23 public and academic libraries across the state.

The Library of Michigan is part of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Historical Center. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).