An African American family history
Earl and Rebecca Scott draw from their book Forging a Path to Wellbeing: The Journey of an African American Family. The book starts with establishing their family ancestry. The challenges are quite different for families whose history involves de facto and later de jure segregation and where official records are often unavailable due to slavery and loss, e.g., fire. They go on to discuss their commitment to education and family wellbeing.
An African American family history
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 10am
You are invited to the meeting of UMRA’s Family History Interest Group on Wednesday, November 6, for a presentation by UMRA members Earl and Rebecca Scott. The Scotts will draw from their family ancestry and travels in America and Africa. Their book, Forging a Path to Wellbeing: The Journey of an African American Family, was published in 2023, the year the couple marked their 66th wedding anniversary.
The book starts with establishing the Scotts’ family ancestry. The challenges are quite different for families whose history involves de facto and de jure segregation, and when official records are often unavailable due to slavery and loss through fire.
The family photo on the cover of their book was taken in Katsina, northern Nigeria, in 1969. It represents a major steppingstone on the Scotts’ path to wellbeing. After visiting Nigeria, they returned to Africa many times for personal and scholarly growth as career educators. The Scotts joined UMRA in 2007 when Earl retired from the U of M geography faculty.
An email with the link to join the Zoom meeting will be emailed to all UMRA members one week before the meeting. We hope you can join us.
—Lynn C. Anderson and Craig Swan, FHIG co-chairs
Lynn Anderson and Craig Swan invite you to the scheduled Zoom meeting.
Upcoming Events
Learn about writing memoirs, technology for seniors, campus architecture, and more at the fourth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held in the McNamara Alumni Center on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 23.
Professor Kathryn Pearson will be a special guest at the UMRA breakfast in June. This will be an opportunity to hear Professor Pearson’s perspective on President Trumps’s first 100 days, and to engage in discussion about what we, as individual citizens, can do in these challenging times for democracy.
Catch up with friends and former colleagues, meet new UMRA members, enjoy delicious food, and participate in the third annual UMRA Summer Social Quiz at the Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul on Wednesday, June 25.
H is for Hawk: A Memoir on Grief and Falconry by Helen Macdonald, published 2016.
The UMRA Hiking Club will hike two wonderful county parks in Monticello, MN on Monday, July 7. Lynn Anderson will lead the hikes and we will meet at her home at 9:30 a.m. and carpool from there.
Our July 14 "hike" is a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles led by Barb Friedman and Bev Moe.
The UMRA Book Club will discuss Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid when it meets via Zoom on July 18.
Bill Doherty's April Living Well Workshop, Dealing with differences in a polarized world, inspired many UMRA members. He has very graciously agreed to hold a Skills for Disagreeing Better workshop for us in July. You will learn about the values and concerns of the other political side and practice skills for communicating more effectively in the presence of disagreement.
Still Life by Louise Penny.
Join hike leader Nanette Hanks on August 4th for a “Trail in Two Cities” hike.
The UMRA Book Club will discuss Blue Ribbon by Karal Ann Marling when it meets via Zoom on August 15.
Join Larry Micek, hike leader, on August 18th for a hike at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, located at 1515 Keats Avenue North, Lake Elmo, MN.
You are invited–join other UMRA members and friends for a late summer river cruise, this year on the Saint Croix River, departing from Stillwater Riverboat Company dock. Our lovely 2.5 hour private charter cruise on the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway includes lunch, a cash bar, and the excellent company of friends and colleagues.
Daytrip Stillwater in the afternoon with friends! Make a day of it.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.