The AAMBC's Book Club meets monthly on Zoom to discuss a different book each month. The next meeting is Thursday, March 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
The next book is The Devil's Half Acre: The Untold Story of How One Woman Liberated the South's Most Notorious Slave Jail by Kristen Green.
The inspiring true story of an enslaved woman who liberated an infamous slave jail and transformed it into one of the nation's first HBCUs In The Devil's Half Acre, New York Times bestselling author Kristen Green draws on years of research to tell the extraordinary and little-known story of young Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman who blazed a path of liberation for thousands. She was forced to have the children of a brutal slave trader and live on the premises of his slave jail, known as the "Devil's Half Acre." When she inherited the jail after the death of her slaveholder, she transformed it into "God's Half Acre," a school where Black men could fulfill their dreams. It still exists today as Virginia Union University, one of America's first Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
A sweeping narrative of a life in the margins of the American slave trade, The Devil's Half Acre brings Mary Lumpkin into the light. This is the story of the resilience of a woman on the path to freedom, her historic contributions, and her enduring legacy.
The book club is led by Liz Young, owner and operator of Commonplace Reader. Liz and Commonplace Reader have been strong supporters of our Museum, and are sponsoring the upcoming Gala. We love independent bookstores and we are so appreciative of Liz and Commonplace Reader!!
This independent bookstore is located at 49 S Main Street, Yardley, PA. If you are interested in joining the book club, please email Liz at
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All are welcome!
You may also like the following events from African American Museum of Bucks County:
- Next Tuesday, 24th February, 08:30 am, Central Bucks Underground Railroad Bus Tour in Langhorne
- Next Saturday, 28th February, 10:00 am, A Legacy of Service Honoring 4 Centuries of African American Soldiers in Langhorne
- Next month, 15th March, 03:00 pm, Dionne Carole: That's What She Said, A Soulful Celebration in Newtown
Also check out other
Meetups in Langhorne,
Arts events in Langhorne,
Literary Art events in Langhorne.
