TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

PHCC Book Series Strives To Help Build 'A Better Society'

ADVERTISEMENT

By LINDSEY SCHAUER

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 23, 2008

This summer, African culture is coming to Pasco-Hernando Community College.

The school's multicultural student affairs office is kicking off its book series today with a discussion of Nigerian author Chinua Achebe's 1958 opus, "Things Fall Apart," in honor of the book's 50th anniversary.

The book, which is still read throughout Africa and English-speaking countries, details the life of Okonkwo, a promising young man of the Igbo tribe who struggles to live up to his own expectations as his tribal society is being colonized by the British.

Imani Asukile, who heads the college's office of multicultural student affairs and equity services, first read the book 20 years ago and found Okonkwo's rise and fall to be a powerful story.

The school plans on holding more book discussions during the fall and spring semesters, with the Dade City, New Port Richey and Brooksville campuses each reading a different book. PHCC is opening the free discussions to the community, hoping to foster a broader discussion about different cultures.

"We build a better society when we have a better understanding of who everyone is. Discussing literature allows us to do that," Asukile said.

PHCC officials haven't picked any other books yet, but they'll be looking for stories that reflect the richness of various cultures - even if they're cultures that may be familiar, Asukile said.

That's the case with the first film likely to be shown in a companion film festival: "Fried Green Tomatoes." Other possible films include "To Kill a Mockingbird" and some Italian titles. The school hopes to screen one film each semester.

Today's discussion of "Things Fall Apart" will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Dade City campus, 36727 Blanton Road, Room A-240. People can buy a copy of the book at PHCC campus bookstores.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT