Grain Valley Publishing Endorses Civil Rights ‘Freedom to Learn Campaign'
Included in the endorsement are the National Urban League, National Action Network, NAACP, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and National Council of Negro Women: “Together We Stand Against Fearmongers”
WICHITA, Kan. — Leaders and organizations from civil rights groups have launched a new campaign to help students, educators, and communities combat efforts to suppress knowledge about the evil legacy of racism and the significant contributions of marginalized communities to our nation’s history.
The “Freedom to Learn” campaign has garnered support at a crucial time, as the country grapples with issues of systemic racism and a political climate that seeks to undermine the hard-won gains of the Civil Rights Movement.
The novel was selected for the “Candid Conversations on Race Book Club” by the Wichita Public Library. It has also been studied in the History of Wichita and Racial Profiling courses at Wichita State University.
According to Grain Valley Publishing Company owner and author Grant Overstake, banning access to information is not only detrimental to future generations’ understanding of history but also poses a threat to our growing multiracial democracy.
As an ally to civil rights leaders, Grain Valley Publishing Company stands in solidarity with those who seek to preserve and promote knowledge about our nation’s complicated history. —Grant Overstake, Publisher
Overstake’s award-winning young adult historical novel, “The Real Education of TJ Crowley” provides a powerful and engaging perspective on “Freedom to Learn” issues.
In the explosive civil rights era, a young white teen from a bigoted family is conflicted when an African American couple and their beautiful daughter cross the racial redline and move into the house next door, setting the stage for a heart-pounding story of racial awakening.
“I believe TJ Crowley can provide people, particularly teens, with a roadmap for personal growth and action,” Overstake said. “The book highlights the power of education and cross-racial friendships to bridge fences that still divide us.”
Now in production, the full cast radio theater adaptation of “The Real Education of TJ Crowley” is an immersive listening experience that features a multicultural cast. It was funded in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This radio theater style production is co-authored by Producer/Director May Wuthrich and the author and is being produced and directed by May at John Marshall Media in New York City. The story is set during a contentious moment in history not unlike our own, and is brought to life by a diverse cast of 13 voice actors playing 24 roles.