Isabel Wilkerson’s award-winning book, The Warmth of Other Suns traces the history of three African Americans from the U.S. South–Ida Mae Brandon Gladney, who left Mississippi in the 1930s; George Swanson Starling who left Florida in the 195s; and Robert Joseph Pershing Foster who left Louisiana in the 1950s–who migrated during The Great Migration (1910-1970), a historical period in which over 6 million African Americans fled the violent South for Northern (and Western) cities.
During this three-part collaboration between Read & Run Chicago and the LYD Foundation, we’ll focus on the story of Ida Mae Brandon Gladney, a Mississippi-born woman who leaves Chickasaw County Mississippi in late October 1937 and eventually lands in Bronzeville, Chicago. Splitting Wilkerson’s book into three sections, runners should read the indicated sections in each registration link prior to the run. Part 1’s discussion focuses on Ida Mae’s life in Mississippi and the circumstances that prompted her to leave; during Part 2 we’ll read and focus on 1940s Bronzeville that Ida Mae arrived to; and finally, during Part 3, we’ll discuss the aftermath and impact of the Great Migration using Ida Mae’s story as our guide.
Part one takes us to Englewood, the South Side Chicago neighborhood where Chris Smith, the founder of the LYD Foundation grew up. Movement options include an easy-paced 3-mile run led by Chris Smith or a 1-mile walk. After, all runners and walkers will receive complimentary lunch by Chef Chelly to enjoy during our discussion.
Participation for each of the events is on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale. If you benefit from generational privilege, are employed, and/or have the means to do so, we encourage a minimum donation of $20. All proceeds collected from these three events will fundraise for the LYD Foundation’s youth mentoring, community development, and food insecurity initiatives.