Interviewing Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson (left) and I after her talk at SAM. Thankfully I had lipstick in purse to put on.

 

When I moved to Seattle I never imagined the opportunity to interview the author of one of my favorite books, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson, would present itself. Because of an exhibit at Seattle Art Museum (SAM) earlier this year it all came together.


SAM held an exhibition of all 60 panels of “The Migration Series” by Jacob Lawrence. The series chronicles the Great Migration of Black people leaving the South in droves. Completed in 1941, Lawrence documents the wave during World War II. The exhibition was a rare opportunity for audiences to see the entire prolific series together (they’re housed at two museums) and in some ways it was also a posthumous homecoming for Lawrence.

 

I covered the show for work and as part of the exhibition SAM invited Wilkerson to hold a talk. When I first saw Lawrence’s series I immediately thought of her book. The historical non-fiction book chronicles The Great Migration of Black people leaving the South for the North, Midwest and West from 1915 – 1970. Approximately six million Black people fled their homes in search of a better life. Racism, violence, Jim Crow laws and a lack of work are just a few of the reasons why they made the incredible sacrifice. Remember in those days there was no FaceTime, Skype or even email. So leaving one's home meant the possibility of never seeing those left behind again. Wilkerson interweaves the story of three protagonists with historical events. Lawrence’s work is the visual representation of the Great Migration while Wilkerson offers a comprehensive narrative of the largely untold movement.

 

If you haven’t read it I strongly suggest you go the bookstore or buy it online. Immediately.

 

It’s a masterpiece.

 

As soon as I read the press release I reached out to Wilkerson’s publicist. After a few email exchanges we set a time to talk on the phone. I was brimming with excitement and our conversation didn’t disappoint. I learned so much about her research, the people she profiled in the book and how the success of her book has affected her life. We ended talking for about 45 minutes but I could have easily talked to her for three times as long. There were about a dozen more questions to ask but I already had plenty for the Q&A I put together.

 

A few weeks after the interview I attended Wilkerson’s talk at SAM. She talked about how her book and his Lawrence’s work have become intertwined. She heard he and his wife Gwendolyn speak before the book came out in 2010. Further solidifying the connection of their work, “Warmth” came out on his birthday. Since its release Wilkerson’s popularity on the speaking circuit hasn't waned. She said the book has endured because “it’s about freedom and how far people will go to achieve it.”

 

Wilkerson said she speaks to many different audiences and finds high school students the hardest to talk to. Life in Jim Crow south is hard to grasp for teenagers today (for instance they've lived with a Black president) so Wilkerson found an example that would resonate with them. To demonstrate the caste system she tells them Black drivers weren’t allowed to pass White drivers on the road. After offering ways to get around this unspoken rule eventually it clicks with them. They understand why so many fled.

 

After my initial conversation with Wilkerson I also reflected on my own life. I read “Warmth” several months before moving to Seattle. I made my own migration – leaving behind a chapter in my life to start anew. Having made the journey to a place that’s the polar opposite of my hometown I understand the challenges they faced. Starting over isn’t for the weak. You have to be strong willed and determined in spite of obstacles to make it work. When I think of the last few years I’m thankful to have been raised by parents who encouraged me to be independent, tackles challenges head on, and a belief that I could do anything I put my mind to.

 

After her talk I stayed behind for the book signing. I wanted to have her sign a copy of the book for my Mom since she’s arguably a bigger fan of the book than I am.

 

 

“You cannot heal without knowing the wounds that divide us.” –Isabel Wilkerson

Be sure to check out the article I wrote on Wilkerson and Lawrence.
Talking flight: Author Isabel Wilkerson comes to SAM to share her research of the Great Migration to accompany the Jacob Lawrence exhibition
Capturing flight: Jacob Lawrence Migration Series comes to SAM