Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts at Avery

Author Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts visited the College of Charleston's Avery Research Center November 10 to discuss her book, Harlem Is Nowhere: A Journey to the Mecca of Black America.

This was Rhodes-Pitts' second stop while visiting Charleston. She spoke to the Charleston Library Society earlier in the day as a part of their Wide Angle Lunches series.

After reading a section from her book, Rhodes-Pitts took questions from the audience. She said that book is not necessary a memoir, but a book in which the residents of Harlem discuss and encounter the past. She found out while living there that she enjoyed the stories of the residents.

"When I got there and talked to the elders and looking at pictures, I got an obsession with the past," Rhodes-Pitts said. "I wanted to know the back story of the story."

Rhodes-Pitts, a Harvard grad and Fullbright scholar, is currently living in New Orleans but will be leaving for Haiti soon. She will be writing a book about the county, as well as the book about the South.

I really glad that I found out about this event. I wanted to go to the luncheon she was at earlier in the day, but I would have to leave work (and pay $25). It was by Twitter that I found out that she was also going to be at Avery. And it was free!

The audience got to interact with Rhodes-Pitts and she was very nice. She was able to answer one-on-one questions and was interested to hear about the history of Charleston from several people. This was her first trip to Charleston and hopes to come back soon.

ETA 11/23/11: Rhodes-Pitts talks to Tavis Smiley about her book here.