by Alan M. Pickert
As the Florida Times-Union has reported in no less than five articles over the past month, there is a nationwide effort to have residents of various towns and cities read the same novel at the same time and then discuss the many aspects of the novel. It is now Jacksonville’s turn.
During the months of August and September, Jacksonville residents have been asked to take part in Jax Reads! by reading the classic novel of bigotry and morality, To Kill A Mockingbird. The Jacksonville Bar Association is highly involved in this program in that numerous attorneys have volunteered their time and effort to act as facilitators and moderators in discussion groups taking place throughout the city in public libraries, book stores, nursing homes, retirement homes, and local high schools.
To Kill A Mockingbird tells of fictional events in a small, depression era Alabama town during the time a black man is wrongly accused of raping and beating a poor white girl. The book, published in 1960, is written from the perspective of Scout, the young daughter of Atticus Finch, a respected white attorney and single father of two who defends the accused man and teaches his children lessons of morality and courage along the way. Author Harper Lee won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her book. Although the book is required reading in many (e.g. James Weldon, Wolfson High School, etc.), it has been controversial in certain school districts because of its mature themes and the use of racial slurs by a few of the characters.
Although many people already have read the book or seen the Oscar-winning film starring Gregory Peck, Marjorie Broward, Coordinator for Jax Reads! said, “Mockingbird speaks to the reader in different ways at different times in their lives. Someone who read the book as a teenager and identified with Scout and her brother, Jem, probably will be more attuned as an adult to the children’s father, Atticus.”
Not only are attorneys of the Jacksonville Bar acting as facilitators and leaders of group discussions throughout the city during the months of August and September, but the Jacksonville Bar Association has procured Mike Papantonio, author of several books including In Search of Atticus Finch, to speak at its monthly luncheon, Sept. 18, beginning at Noon at the Omni Hotel. Mr. Papantonio will compare and contrast Atticus Finch’s legal career and challenges with the careers and challenges facing today’s lawyer. Although the luncheon is free to all Jacksonville Bar members, reservations must be made in advance through the Jacksonville Bar Association, 399-4486.
If you would like to know more about the Jax Reads! program or would like to volunteer your time, please do not hesitate to contact Alan Pickert at Brown, Terrell, Hogan, 632-2424, or visit the web site, jacksonville.com, keyword: jaxreads.