Authors, artists, poets, and fans from around the world gathered in Downtown Miami last week to experience the sights and sounds of Miami Book Fair. Throughout the week students and faculty and staff members welcomed authors including Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Lenny Kaye, Jimmy Johnson, and Siddhartha Mukherjee. Friday through Sunday, The UCreates greeted thousands of Book Fair attendees to share details about the exciting arts and humanities programming happening throughout the University.
Explore highlights and happenings from the week.
Tuesday, Nov. 15: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, introduced by Jamie Williams-Smith.
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, author of “My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives,” posed with Sterling Cole, a junior from Atlanta studying political science, and Jamie-Williams Smith, president of the Student Government. Williams-Smith introduced Hunter-Gault on Nov. 15, for a candid discussion about her storied career as a Black journalist in the United States, and her role in desegregating the University of Georgia as a student in 1961.
Thursday, Nov. 17: Jimmy Johnson, introduced by Alonzo Highsmith.
Alonzo Highsmith, general manager of football operations, shared anecdotes of his time as a former Hurricanes running back (1983-1986) under the leadership of University of Miami championship coach Jimmy Johnson on Nov. 17. In his book “Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs,” Johnson recounts his extraordinary life as one of the winningest coaches in football.
Saturday, Nov. 19: Lenny Kaye, introduced by Cristina Favretto.
Cristina Favretto, head of special collections, University of Miami Libraries, welcomed Lenny Kaye, author of “Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments in Rock and Roll” on Nov. 19. Kaye discussed his career as the guitarist of the Patti Smith Group in the 1970s. The guitarist treated attendees to a performance of an original song, “Pleasure of Books.”
Sunday. Nov. 20: Siddhartha Mukherjee, introduced by Erin Kobetz.
Erin Kobetz, vice provost for research and scholarship, University of Miami, associate director, Population Sciences and Cancer Disparity, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, introduced author Siddhartha Mukherjee to share insight into his book, “The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human” in conversation with Mikkael Sekeres, professor of medicine and the chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center on Nov. 20.
Friday, Nov. 19 - Sunday, Nov. 20: The UCreates at the Miami Book Fair street fair.
The UCreates greeted attendees at the weekend street fair. Learn more about The UCreates, the University’s platform dedicated to showcasing arts and culture work of students, faculty, and staff members.
Photos: Jenny Hudak, Joshua Prezant, and Matthew Rembold/University of Miami.
