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Project Ujima Book Discussion

"A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope Justice and Freedom"

Join the Maple Valley Branch and Project Ujima for a powerful discussion of "A Knock at Midnight" by Brittany K. Barnett." Register in person, online, or by phone at 330.864.5721.

To join the discussion, log in with the Zoom Meeting ID: 817-3862-4439 at 6:30 pm. 

Summary of the Book:

"An urgent call to free those buried alive by America's legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system.

Brittany K. Barnett was only a law student when she came across the case that would change her life forever: that of Sharanda Jones, single mother, business owner, and, like Brittany, Black daughter of the rural South. A victim of America's devastating war on drugs, Sharanda had been torn away from her young daughter and was serving a life sentence without parole-for a first-time drug offense. In Sharanda, Brittany saw haunting echoes of her own life, both as the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother and as the once-girlfriend of an abusive drug dealer. As she studied this case, a system came into focus: one where widespread racial injustice forms the core of America's addiction to incarceration.

Moved by Sharanda's plight, Brittany set to work to gain her freedom. This had never been the plan. Bright and ambitious, Brittany was a successful accountant on her way to a high-powered future in corporate law. But Sharanda's case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. By day, she moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in near-hopeless legal battles. Ultimately, her path transformed her understanding of injustice in the courts, of genius languishing behind bars, and the very definition of freedom itself. Brittany's riveting memoir is at once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist them both." -- Provided by publisher.

For additional information, contact Tonya Wright, Maple Valley Branch Manager, at 330.643.4662 or email twright@akronlibrary.org.

Project Ujima is a grassroots community engagement organization that teaches and facilitates discussion circle processes that enable diverse citizens to come together, discuss issues of shared concern, develop relationships of trust, discover common ground, and go from talking to action.

This program will be presented on Zoom. A webcam and microphone may be necessary to participate fully in this interactive event. If you have one or neither of these, your participation may be limited.

A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom / Brittany K. Barnet

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