Upcoming Events For Literary Folk

By Betsy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 2, 2010 5:30PM

Wednesday: Jerald Walker, who was born and raised in a Chicago housing project, will read from his new autobiography Street Shadows: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and Redemption. Walker was a bright and promising student before he dropped out of high school, became a drug addict, and struggled to bring himself back to become the husband, father, teacher and writer he is today.
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S State, 6 p.m., free

Wednesday: This month's RUI: Reading Under the Influence series strikes a timely ides of February chord. The theme is "Love Hangover." Author and journalist Claire Zulkey, 2nd Story ensemble member Aimee Perkins and local writers Joe Deir and Barry Wightman will read their own original work as well as some bits of well-known published work related to the theme. Author Jaimee Wriston Colbert will read a selection from her new novel.
Sheffiled's, 3258 N. Sheffield, 7:30 p.m, $3

Thursday: Our top pick this week involves murder, the Chicago police and an FBI conspiracy. Attorney Jeff Haas will discuss his book about his investigation of Black Panther Fred Hampton's death in 1969. Bill Ayers, Alice Kim, LaDonna Redmond and David Omtoso Stovall will join the panel discussion. Check out an excerpt of Haas' book The Assassinaion of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther (via Chicago Reader).
Barbara's Bookstore at UIC, 1218 South Halsted, 6 p.m., free