First Friday Art Walk

Join us during First Friday Art Walk, Flagstaff’s monthly celebration of local art, culture, and community. As part of the evening, Bright Side Bookshop will host a local author book signing in-store.

Stop by to meet local writers, Wilson Edward Reed, browse his work, and enjoy the downtown Art Walk atmosphere. To learn more about Art Walk and check out other happenings for the night, please visit https://downtownflagstaff.org/events/first-friday-art-walk This event is free and open to the public. Come enjoy First Friday with us! About the Book: One bright summer morning in rural Redwood, Mississippi, eight-year-old JuneBug was excited to go fishing with Aunt Emma. She loved to tell stories and he loved to listen. He didn’t want to mention his fear of snakes or that he got real bored waiting on fish because it was such a treat to have this special time with his favorite aunt. She often shared words of wisdom that he knew were meant especially for him. After they climbed the hill to the fishing hole behind his parents’ home and they settled down on the bank of the watering hole, Aunt Emma started talking as if she’d read his mind. “You don’t have to worry about being afraid of snakes or getting fidgety waiting for the fish to come. It’s only natural to have some fears. Then she leaned in and said, “The important thing is not to let things like worrying about fears get in the way of your goals. Remember this: As you grow up, do not let being black hold you back. You must muster the strength to overcome racial taunts and prejudice. Do not become a victim and complete your education”. Aunt Emma’s message stuck with JuneBug from Kings Elementary to his graduation from Rosa A Temple High School. It became a voice in his head all the way through his academic life and professional career. Full of humor and heartache, JuneBug shows one young person’s journey to self-worth despite the onslaught of negative messages that come at him from all sides. Young readers will follow JuneBug’s exploits with his friends, the loss of his mother, and his struggles with systemic racism. Throughout his experiences, JuneBug learns to use his head, his humor, and his heart. Middle grade readers will relate to JuneBug as a peer but will also have their eyes opened to the evils of segregation. About the Author: Wilson Edward Reed, PhD was born on a family farm in 1950s Mississippi during the height of Jim Crow segregation. As an African American, he lived under the twenty-two laws that restricted miscegenation (racial mixing) and prevented African Americans from participating as full citizens – for over seventy-five years. Dr. Reed learned at an early age that he must obey Jim Crow or face punishment. He attended a segregated school, church, movie theater, and public library, and was able to maintain his dignity by working hard in school and taking small jobs, including picking cotton. After attending Rosa A. Temple High School and Utica Junior College, Wilson Reed moved to Seattle and earned both BA and MA degrees at the University of Washington. Years later, he earned an MA at Suny Albany and finally capped of his academic achievements with a PhD at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Arizona. He taught at over five institutions, including the University of Washington, University of Oregon, Seattle University, Northern Arizona University, and Texas Christian University, over his professional career. Today, Dr. Reed lives outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. His book, The Politics of Community Policing is still in print. This, his newest release, JuneBug, is a fictionalized account of growing up Black in the South during the 1950’s and ’60’s under Jim Crow. He is still known affectionately to family and friends from Mississippi as JuneBug. Most of the story is true, and most of the characters are based on real people. Like JuneBug, Dr. Reed was born on a family-owned farm. He worked in the field picking cotton and pulling corn at an early age. The Jim Crow laws did curtail the boundaries of his and his family’s life in rural Mississippi. Although he found limited opportunities in the South, he blossomed in Seattle. After the bus trip west, the family and community support gave him the confidence and security to grow. The Sankofa bird is an important symbol of African culture. It signifies the importance of understanding the past in order to move forward. Dr. Reed never forgot his humble beginnings. Throughout his career he worked to highlight the problems that divide communities and taught students to bridge those divisions with compassion and understanding.