"Push" author Sapphire will appear in Ann Arbor on MLK Day

Just as the movie "Precious" is gaining momentum in both box office receipts and Oscar prospect discussions, Sapphire, the author of the novel ("Push") that was the basis for the film, will be coming to Ann Arbor to deliver a free public lecture on Martin Luther King Day.

"Push" author Sapphire will offer a lecture at the University of Michigan on Martin Luther King Day.

Photo by Lina Pallotta

On Monday, January 18, from 2-4 p.m., at the Michigan Union's Rogel Ballroom, award-winning poet, author and educator Sapphire will deliver a talk titled, "'Push,' Literacy, Women, and African American Literature."

"Push" tells the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, an overweight African-American teenager struggling to find her place in the world despite suffering from incest, abuse and illiteracy.

Sapphire received numerous awards for "Push," including the First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction from the Book-of-the Month Club. Sapphire’s poetry, fiction and essays have been translated into eleven different languages, and her work has been adapted for the stage in several countries. She worked with literacy students in Harlem and the Bronx, and has taught writing and poetry workshops at a number of schools, including SUNY Purchase, Trinity College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Brooklyn College, the New School University and the Writer’s Voice in New York City.

Watch for more information on AnnArbor.com as the event approaches. Meanwhile, for details about this event, visit U-M's MLK Symposium web site.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.