As May has begun, I have completed my first academic year at the University of East Anglia and with the American Memorial Library. From head to toe it has been a wonderful year. UEA has treated me well, my research is off to a great start, I have been able to attend a variety of conferences, and Norwich is an amazing city. But what has stuck out to me most this year has been time in the American Memorial Library!
Through the AML I have been able to grow my knowledge even more, and not just in my research area. Being able to attend and help with the wide variety of events hosted by the American Library has become one of my favorite things to do. Whether its a history seminar about the 2nd Air Division and Friendly Invasion, digitization projects for remembering the stories of World War II, or events about United States culture and history; there is always something fascinating to learn about! I am looking forward to our future events as well. We are hosting events on the British Normandy Memorial, friendship bracelet making, and planning more events for the future!
Overall it has a been great first year with the American Memorial Library, and I look forward to continuing to work with them throughout my time at UEA and in Norwich!
Being from Maryland, I don’t often see headlines about my small, northeast home state in the BBC. So, you can imagine my shock along with the rest of the world on March 26th when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed after a freak incident in the middle of the night. I had driven over the bridge countless times en route to family beach trips on the Jersey Shore or to high school swim meets at neighbouring Catholic schools in the Baltimore Diocese. Once I saw that the collapse happened in the middle of the night I could breathe easier trusting that no friends or family would have been on the bridge at that time. As I read more details my stomach turned at the news of victims of the crash and their families who are now awaiting answers.
The tragedy of the bridge collapse is clear in terms of lives lost, but there’s an additional sadness for the Baltimore community. The Key Bridge has been a point of state pride since it opened in 1977. The bridge’s namesake Francis Scott Key is best known as the author of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, the American National Anthem. His poem ‘D’fense of Fort McHenry’ was written during the War of 1812 when he sat along the shores of the Patapsco River watching American troops hold their own against British attack. Key studied at St. John’s College in the state capital of Annapolis and went on to be a famed lawyer in Washington, DC. For such a small state, Marylanders have long been proud of our connection to the National Anthem and Key’s legacy.
In addition to the historical significance of the bridge as a landmark, it is also crucial to global trade as Baltimore houses one of the largest ports in the world. As the city, state, and federal government work together to rebuild the bridge, major delays in trade are predicted that will impact more than just the local area. Specifically, Baltimore is the largest port in the US for automobile trade, an industry that was already greatly impacted during the COVID-19 lockdowns. This additional set back to the auto industry will no doubt have a nationwide ripple.
And finally, the community is mourning the loss of lives of those on the bridge. In addition to the drivers on the bridge, local construction workers doing maintenance work on the bridge were also victims of the collapse. This shocking, seemingly freak accident has shaken the area as we are well aware how many locals were on that bridge just a few hours earlier driving home from work. Now as we await answers from an investigation into the accident, I can only hope that the families of the victims will receive an explanation for this tragedy.
The next time I go back to Maryland to visit my family the drive in to Baltimore will look a bit different. We are all hopeful that the bridge can be rebuilt in a quick, safe manner to help Baltimore reclaim this memorial and continue to pay tribute to one of our most famous Marylanders.
March is Women’s History Month in the United States! We at the American Library are proud to show off all of the amazing women that have shaped not only the United States, but the world as a whole. Many of our most popular book in the library are about women, written by women, or both!
In the library we have biographies about many important women to United States history. Such as Harriet Tubman, Kamilla Harris, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Hillary Clinton, Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Regan, and many more. We also have many books of other famous American Women like Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, etc.
As a memorial to 2nd Air Division, we often talk about the history of World War II and what happened here in East Anglia. We have many exciting talks over the past few years about the role women played helping soldiers here in East Anglia and around the rest of the world as well. It is important to us at the library that we remember “Not all soldiers wear pants”.
We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about our wonderful collection of books dedicated to all things about women’s history, empowerment, politics, and everything else! This collection is featured prominently at the entrance to the American Library. Many of our fiction books are also written by female authors. One of our most popular authors in library as a whole is Anne Tyler we have 12 of her books in the American Library, and over 50 spread around Norfolk Library System.
We at the American Library are excited to celebrate Women’s History Month and share our collections with all of you!
February marks Black History Month in the United States so, naturally, as the American Library we are excited to showcase books by Black American writers. This year I thought it would be meaningful to highlight books centred on themes of Black Joy.
The phrase ‘Black joy’ was used by Kleaver Cruz when he began the Black Joy Project in 2015 as ‘a digital and real-world effort to centre Black joy as a form of resistance.’ Too often headlines about Black Americans involve tragedy related to anti-black racism. This has been the case for over two centuries since the enslavement of Black Africans began in the United States and continued beyond Emancipation in 1863 with legalized segregation and policies that prevented Black Americans—who gained full citizenship rights under the 14th Amendment—from gaining equal status in the United States.
Given this history, a movement to recognize ‘Black joy’ is powerful in its simplicity. While it is absolutely important to remain aware of the ways in which racial inequality persists today, too much focus on this trauma can stifle the images and perceptions of Black Americans. Cruz noted their own personal need for this movement saying, ‘my social media timelines needed some joy amidst the sharing of important information, thoughts, art, photos and videos that can be upsetting and at its worst depressing and (re)traumatizing.’ In this way, Black Joy does not deny or ignore issues faced by marginalized people but focuses on how experiences of joy also deserve a space in the public sphere.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture notes, ‘Black Joy is and has been an effective tool that has allowed individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor.’ Black Joy is another form of expression and books depicting Black Joy endeavour to contribute to this narrative of persisting and thriving despite racial trauma. Here are some books on Black Joy to inspire your reading list:
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
This fantasy novel is a love letter to New York City!
Meals, Music and Muses: Recipes from My African American Kitchen by Alexander Smalls
Memoir by an opera singer about food from the American South, complete with recipes.
It’s Not All Downhill from Here by Terry McMillan
A fictional narrative of an aging African American woman who faces change with the help of friends and family.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
A heartfelt romcom about four sons trying to save their late mother’s knitting shop with the help of her loyal employee.
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
Based on the real life Patterson family, this historical fiction follows four women in the early 20th century looking for love in high-society.
I Came as a Shadow by John Thompson
An autobiography by a famed college basketball coach who became the first Black American coach to win a revered NCAA championship.
To find more books with narratives of Black Joy, check out these lists from BookBub, Bucks County Free Library, and Epic Reads. The American Library also offers a wide range of e-books and audiobooks, both fiction and non-fiction, by African American writers that you can find on our Norfolk County Council Collection page. For additional information about Black Joy in art and literature, here are some great pieces from Electric Lit and the ACLU.
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