www . theskanner . com
J une 1, 2011
s eattle , w ashington
V olume XXXiii, n o .31
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C hallenging P eoPle to S haPe a B etter F uture n ow
The Librarian
theatre’s
tough
talks
Seattle’s Taproot
creates discussion
around race, status
by brian Stimson
Of The Skanner News
PhOtO cOurteSy Of the King cOunty library
F
marcellus turner, the new city librarian, says he looks forward to returning to northwest from colorado
Public library appoints marcellus turner
New city librarian says he looks forward to returning to Northwest
by helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
T
he Seattle Public Library
board
has
named
Marcellus Turner as its
new City Librarian. Turner,
who comes to the job from
Jefferson County library system
in Colorado, will manage a
budget of $50 million and 640
employees in 26 branches.
Originally from Mississippi,
Turner earned his master’s
degree from the University of
Tennessee. He has 20 years of
experience in libraries including
three years supervising the ref-
erence library in Tacoma. the
Skanner news caught up with
him this week in this phone
interview.
the Skanner news: What are
your thoughts about coming to
Seattle?
Marcellus turner: Profes-
sionally it is a wonderful oppor-
tunity to come and work for and
with a group of staff and citi-
zens and community who love
libraries and the role that we
play in the community. I think
inDeX
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calendar ....................2
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the city is right for what
libraries do and I’m just excited
to be in that environment.
Personally I am really excited to
be returning to the Northwest. I
lived and worked there from
1997 to 200 I think and I just
fell so in love with the
Northwest. I don’t mind the rain
at least I didn’t in the three years
I lived there. It’s a wonderful
city and I’m fortunate to be part
of such a successful library pro-
gram.
the Skanner news: Have you
plans for what you want to do.
One of the first things I want
to do is get out and meet with
the staff and visit the libraries.
Bein g in the library field I’ve
heard about the libraries but I’ve
not visited all of them, so that
will be one of the first things
that I want to do. I also want to
get to know the staff and get to
know what they are interested in
and what they are trying to do.
Third, I’d like to understand the
culture in Seattle. Every library
system has its own culture
which is a combination of how
See library on page 4
or most of the year, Taproot Theatre’s
audience is not what you would call
diverse. But at least according to new
demographic reports, neither is Seattle.
The theatre is hoping to bring together a
variety of people to experience the play
“Brownie Points” and the accompanying
“Neighbors & Strangers” – a discussion
centered around the sometimes touchy sub-
jects of race, identity, privilege and more.
“We were aware of these census reports
and we thought that now is a good time to
host this,” said Taproot’s Sonja Lowe.
The play, written by a Jewish woman from
Atlanta, is about a diverse group of mothers
who go on a mother/daughter camping trip
and end up exploring themes of race, identi-
ty and motherhood, as well as the presump-
tions they all have about each other.
Every Thursday during the play’s run,
Taproot will be holding a post-play discus-
sion. In addition, the free event “Neighbors
and Stangers” will expand this conversation
with a panel of experts that includes Pastor
Patrinell Wright, founder of Total
Experience Gospel Choir; Rabbi Mark S.
Glickman, congregations Kol Ami and Kol
Shalom; Dr. Ron Ruthruff; and Karen Lund,
director of Taproot. The event will be held 7
to 9 p.m. on June 13. Admission is free, but
an RSVP is required. Priority Seating is
given to ticket holders of any performance
of “Brownie Points.”
Lowe, who helped organize the events at
Taproot, says they wanted to create a way
for the audience to interact with the show.
They asked The Johns Perkins Center at
Seattle Pacific University to help. So far,
Caenisha Warren, of the John Perkins
Center, says the discussion has related to the
personal experiences of the residents of
Seattle and surrounding communities.
“You never know how people will
respond,” she told The Skanner News.
See theatre on page 2
wwii Vet recalls Fight in south Pacific
Russell Jones, 90, withstood abuse, horror, but still loved the Army
A
t 90, Russell Jones is a portrait of
health. The World War II vet is spry
and could outwalk most 80-year-
olds in his downtown Vancouver apartment
building.
While he’s been retired for some time
now, Jones spent a considerable amount of
time serving in the U.S. Army.
Enlisting in the months prior to the out-
break of the United States’ involvement in
World War II, Jones said his time in the mil-
itary shaped his life.
Despite mistreatment from southern
White officers, having ammunition confis-
cated before battle and watching tons of
food go to waste as Black soldiers were told
their rations sank at sea, Jones says he stuck
with the military.
Now living in downtown Vancouver, Wa.
near his daughter Sandy, the veteran decid-
ed to tell at least part of his story to The
Skanner News.
Signing uP
Ever since seeing his uncle come home in
his uniform from the 10th Cavalry – of
Buffalo Soldier days – did Jones want to
See Vet on page 2