Jamaica Kincaid — Writer, Novelist , Documentary Filmmaker —
to speak on "Coming of Age in A Small Place"
for Dean William Parks Colloquium

News Release - Jan. 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public's contact for publication:
Professor Roberta Rosenberg
(757) 594-7149
rrosenb@cnu.edu

Media contact:
Carolyn Cuthrell
Office of Communications & Public Relations
(757) 594-73318

(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) — Internationally recognized author, filmmaker and Harvard professor, Jamaica Kincaid will speak on "Coming of Age in a Small Place" as the first Dean William Parks Colloquium speaker of 2007.  Kincaid's free presentation will be at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in the Music and Theatre Hall, 7 p.m., February 1, to coincide with both Black History Month and Jamestown 2007.  The Dean William Park Colloquium is sponsored and presented free of charge to the community.

Born on the island of Antigua, Jamaica Kincaid has become one of the most influential and important authors writing in America today.  She writes about her experiences in Antigua under English colonial rule, memories which instilled in her the need to speak about the world from the perspective of the colonized.  "I never give up thinking about the way I came into the world," writes Kincaid, "how my ancestors came from Africa to the West Indies as slaves.  I just never forget it.  It's like a big wave that still pulsing."

Kincaid's literary voice is also deeply rooted in her tempestuous experiences as a child  with her mother.  Her talk on "Coming of Age in a Small Place" will discuss both her family relations as well as her experiences under colonial rule.

Kincaid was also influential in the production of the documentary film, Life & Debt about the impact of economic globalization on developing countries.  Featuring a voice-over narration written by Kincaid, the film sees the reality of globalization from is an unapologetic look at the "new world order," from the point of view of Jamaican workers, farmers, government and policy officials who see the reality of globalization from the ground up.  The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Department of History will screen "Life & Debt" on January 30 in the Gaines Theatre at 7 p.m.

Jamaica Kincaid's award winning writing includes literary fiction, horticultural essays as well as documentaries on third world economics.  In addition to her nine years as a staff writer for the New Yorker and featured columnist for its "Talk of the Town" section, Kincaid has won acclaim for her novels and essays including .Annie John, Lucy and The Autobiography of My Mother as well as the memoir A Small Place.  In addition to teaching creative writing at Harvard University, Jamaica Kincaid produces books on her passion, horticulture, including My Garden and Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalayas.

Kincaid will also do a workshop on "Writing and Families" on February 1 for a small group of students. For more information, please contact Professor Roberta Rosenberg at (757) 594-7149 or rrosenb@cnu.edu.