Juneteenth Program and Celebration! With Peter D. Brown, Author of "I Am Jayvyn"

York Public Library and the York Diversity Forum are partnering to bring you two programs this month in acknowledgement of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865. It's celebrated annually on June 19th and marks the end of slavery in the United States.  On Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30 PM, Carol Gardner will talk about her new book "The Divided North: Black and White Families in the Age of Slavery". On Thursday, June 17, Peter D. Brown will speak about his book "I AM JAYVYN". 

Delicious Jamaican food will be served as part of the program! Come and join us to acknowledge this important Holiday of Juneteenth. Registration required.

Peter D. Brown will be coming to York Public Library to talk about his new book, I AM JAYVYN. He will share his reasons for writing this book as well as the process involved. He is a Maine-based author of historical fiction with a deep interest in social justice and a passion for preserving history. His writing relies on a deep commitment to historical accuracy while aiming to illuminate stories of the oppressed or misunderstood. Presented alongside proclivities typical of the human condition, he challenges his readers to confront uncomfortable truths and engage with the complexities of the human experience. Through his work, Peter hopes to promote thoughtful conversations about the enduring impact of history on contemporary society.

Retired now from formal enterprise, Peter lives in a quiet, pastoral township in Maine with his loving wife and two dogs, where he enjoys ample quietude and peace to gain inspiration, sort out his thoughts, and bring them to life.

ABOUT THE BOOK

"I AM JAYVYN” is a compelling work of historical fiction positioned to remind readers of the reality of the transatlantic slave trade and the key role the enslaved played in the development of America.

Cir. 1710: On a beautiful morning full of hope and promise, twelve-year-old Javyn’s world is suddenly shattered when English slavers raid his peaceful village. His father is killed, he is separated from his mother and little sister, and his home is left in flames. In a whirlwind of change, Jayvyn survives the horrors of the middle passage alone, landing in Barbados, where he endures two years of ‘seasoning’ on a sugar plantation. His adolescent development progresses under the tutelage of Andrew, a fellow enslaved African, in desperate circumstances he could never have imagined.

In time, Jayvyn is sold again and survives another harrowing ocean voyage to South Carolina, where he is auctioned off to the owner of a growing rice plantation. Jayvyn lives his life amongst a diverse cast of fellow enslaved in a world where love, hate, and cruelty coexist as families are formed and separated at the whim of masters who see the enslaved as nothing more than chattel property. Colonial history unfolds while this resilient community of enslaved Africans adapt to an ever-changing world of oppression and subjugation.

Over the course of his life, Jayvyn gains a healthy perspective on the virtues and flaws of humanity—even transcending the high threshold of forgiveness—leaving readers with abundant food for thought delivered in an appalling tale of pain and suffering, but also one of true faith and deliverance told through the clear lens of history.

READ THE REVIEWS

OTHER EVENTS WITH PETER D. BROWN

The York Diversity Forum's mission is to be a visible, peaceful, active voice and resource that promotes understanding, acceptance and respect for people of all races, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, ages and abilities.

They realize their mission by presenting programs that foster understanding of diverse populations and also respond to specific instances of prejudice and discrimination in York.

Since its inception in 2003, the Diversity Forum has presented a variety of programs including;  A Jewish  Literature Series, The Immigrant Experience in Maine,  Native American History and Culture in Maine,  Autism Awareness,  Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys and Annual Martin Luther King Day programs.