Stories bring us together, which is perhaps why so many women, seeking an expanded social circle, form book clubs. For a group living in The Plaza in Clayton, it was precisely a desire for a more connected community that led to the founding of the Plaza Readers 10 years ago.
Today, the women continue to meet regularly. They come from a variety of backgrounds, which keeps discussions interesting, says member Amanda Murphy. “We’re a diverse population in terms of our experiences and what we like to read, so that makes it rewarding,” she says.
Recently, local author Vida Prince was invited to join the Plaza Readers for a discussion of Prince’s That’s the Way It Was: Stories of Struggle, Survival and Self-Respect in Twentieth-Century Black St. Louis. Prince and Murphy met at an annual Women of Achievement meeting, where Murphy spoke about her life’s work providing mental health services to the poor and uninsured through the development of the Amanda L. Murphy Hopewell Center. “When Vida heard me speak, she was impressed with what I said, and I was impressed with her, too,” Murphy says. “Now we’re working together to get her book in all the public libraries.”
[about the book]
This series of oral histories was compiled by Vida Prince, who has been researching and collecting people’s stories for more than three decades. It gives firsthand accounts of racism and segregation experienced by African-Americans in 20th century St. Louis.
[opinions]
>> “This was a nostalgic read and evoked many childhood memories of street names, places and stores. I grew up on Fountain Ave., between Aubert and Euclid avenues, and would sometimes go downtown on the bus or service cars to have lunch at Famous, Stix or Scruggs. Sad to say, I never realized how unfairly the black customers were treated.” — Ruth Sandler
>> “The individuals sharing their stories are strong, vulnerable and bitingly honest—a difficult and valuable perspective. To survive the evils of segregation with such grace and self-knowledge is a testament to the efforts of loving parents, dedicated teachers and a rich sense of community.” — Lionelle Elsesser
[favorite]
The Light Between the Oceans, by M.L. Stedman
[up next]
Miriam’s Way, by Cissy Lacks
Photo: Bill Barrett
Pictured, front: Eileen Hoagland, Vida ‘Sister’ Prince, Shonny Joseph, Jane Walbrandt; Back: Amanda Murphy, Tobie Liebert, Lionelle Elsesser, Ruth Sandler, Gerry Schiller
