Blood at the Root Author to Speak at Local Church

Critically acclaimed poet and author Patrick Phillips will speak on his latest book, Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America on Saturday, April 8 at 4:00 p.m. at Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 Canton Highway, Cumming.

An Afternoon with Patrick Phillips is co-sponsored by Cumming First United Methodist Church and Forsyth County Public Library. Admission to the event is free. Register to attend online at www.forsythpl.org.

While Blood at the Root is his first non-fiction book, Phillips also authored three books of poetry, including Chattahoochee, the Kate Tufts Discovery Award winner, and Elegy for a Broken Machine, a finalist for the National Book Award. Among his other honors are a U.S. Fulbright Commission, Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and the Lyric Poetry Award from the Poetry Society of America. He is also credited for translating When We Leave Each Other: Selected Poems of Henrik Nordbrandt from Danish to English.

Published by W.W. Norton & Company, Blood at the Root describes the history of racial violence in Forsyth County, from the removal of native Cherokee people in the 1830s through Reconstruction and beyond, with a focus on the events of September 1912 when groups of “night riders” burned homes and expelled 1,098 black citizens from the county.

Since its release in September 2016, the book has received numerous reviews and recommendations from authors, journalists, and public figures. The book has also been widely circulated at the library.

“Library patrons are interested in Blood at the Root and, following our initial order of books, we’ve added additional print, eBook, and eAudiobook versions to address patron demand for the material,” says Assistant Director for Public Services Stephen Kight. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Cumming First United Methodist Church to have Mr. Phillips speak to our community.”

Copies of Blood at the Root are available for purchase at local bookstores and online, along with other works of poetry by Phillips. Barnes and Noble will have copies of Blood at the Root available for purchase during the event. Phillips will sign books for attendees at a reception immediately following his talk.

For more information or to register, please visit www.forsythpl.org.