The first book discussion in a four-part series will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at 5 p.m. The discussion will be in room 458 in the University of Louisiana Monroe Library and is open to the public.
The first book being discussed is The Embattled Vote in America: From the Founding to the Present by Allan J. Lichtman. An award-winning historian and voting right activist, Allan Lichtman gives the history behind today’s headlines. He shows that political gerrymandering and outrageous attempts at voter suppression have been a fixture of American democracy—but so have efforts to fight back and ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard. Leigh Hersey, Assistant Professor of Political Science said, "There's not actually a right to vote written in the constitution. It explores all of that, builds on that foundation, and takes us where we are today."
The series will take a look at the history of voting rights in the United States including the founding of the nation in 1776, women's suffrage in 1919, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and, modern-day voter ID laws. Meredith McKinnie, English instructor said, "It's a book club, kind of... Each month, we are going to read a different book, and we are going to discuss themes of that book."
The next scheduled discussions are Tuesday, August 23, Tuesday, September 20, and Tuesday< October 11.
A limited amount of free copies of the books are available upon registration. Registration is available at mckinnie@ulm.edu.