“Always Different, Always Good”

THIRD THURSDAY BOOK SIGNINGS

6 p.m. * Free Admission

eta Square

7558 S. South Chicago Ave.            

773/752-3955

 

November 20, 2008         Ida: In Her Own Words

                                                 by Michelle Duster

 

In Ida: In Her Own Words, Ida B. Wells' grandson Troy Duster and great-granddaughter Michelle Duster, add historical perspective and insight into how much things have changed or not when it comes to the African American experience in the United States of America.  The book includes excerpts from journalist and anti-lynching crusader

Michelle Duster started her career as a copywriter in advertising at a small agency in Chicago. She soon learned film production and worked on the PBS broadcast documentary film Ida B. Wells:  A Passion for Justice with New York-based documentary filmmaker, William Greaves.  

 

She spent many years in  New York City, where among other things, she worked as an Assistant Producer on the Benson & Hedges Blues Festival, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black  Culture, and with Jewell Jackson McCabe.

 

She returned to her native Chicago where she worked as a freelance project manager and writer in marketing at several companies including Kohler, Motorola, Harris Bank, and Van Kampen Investments. In addition, she discovered her artistic ability in designing beaded jewelry, and has pursued that side of her creativity by participating in art fairs and private shows.

 

As Vice President of The Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation, Michelle is very active in growing the scholarship fund, the journalism award, and the museum.  Her goal is to help the general public become more aware of the contributions her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, made to the history of the United States.

 

Michelle earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. She completed course work for a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Video at Columbia College in Chicago and received her master's degree in Communications from the New School for Social Research in New York City. 

Books will be available for sale and autographing.