Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum, pictured above, pose together and hold up their most recently published books. Photo courtesy of Emma Quirk '26.
By Emma Quirk ’26
Staff Writer
Content warning: This article mentions racism.
On Oct. 27, 2022, Mount Holyoke College welcomed Charlayne Hunter-Gault to speak with Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum about her new book “My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives.”
Hunter-Gault, as Tatum stated during their talk, is “a civil rights hero, award-winning journalist [and] author of several books.” She was the first Black, female student — and one of the first two Black students ever — admitted to the University of Georgia. In her early career, Hunter-Gault worked as an editorial assistant at the New Yorker magazine, accepted a Russell Sage Fellowship and worked as a reporter and anchor for WRC-TV. In 1968 she joined The New York Times, and while there created the Harlem bureau. In 1978, she became national correspondent for Public Broadcasting Service’s “MacNeil/Lehrer Report.” Hunter-Gault was a chief correspondent in Africa for National Public Radio and then became bureau chief and correspondent in South Africa for CNN from 1999 to 2005. She is the recipient of two National News and Documentary Emmy awards and two Peabody Awards.
The conversation between Hunter-Gault and Tatum took place in the Community Center Great Room and was attended by students, faculty and community members. The event was hosted by the Odyssey Bookshop in collaboration with New England Public Media, the College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Weissman Center for Leadership.
As guests entered the room, they were greeted by the owner and president of Odyssey Bookshop, Joan Grenier, and other Odyssey employees. They were given the opportunity to purchase “My People,” as well as Tatum’s book “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” (2017). DEI Fellows and Weissman Center Fellows also welcomed the guests.
The event began with DEI Fellow Soleil Doering ’24 reading the College’s land acknowledgment, followed by welcomes from both Grenier and NEPM’s president Matt Abramovitz. Lauren Gaia, chief of staff and strategic communications in the DEI Office, then introduced both Tatum and Hunter-Gault. The speakers settled into armchairs onstage to a standing ovation.
With candor, authenticity and wit, Hunter-Gault shared insights about the inspirations, beliefs and life experiences that led to the book. Before the conversation officially began, Jean Denton Thompson, a Freedom Rider — a civil rights activist who protested against bus segregation in the 1960s American South — and educator, was introduced to Hunter-Gault. “[The two of them] sang a freedom song that has long since been forgotten. … [It was a moment] that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Jonencia Wood, assistant vice president for DEI said. “It was absolutely incredible and awe inspiring.”
Tatum began the discussion with Hunter-Gault by asking how she decided what belonged in her new book. Hunter-Gault stated that when she talked to her editor, Sarah Reed, she was encouraged to “pick out the things that [she liked], and that [she] may think people haven’t seen or read.” She then explained, “The first time I did that, you wouldn’t be able to carry the book home tonight.”
As Hunter-Gault spoke, she emphasized that there were many women in her life that inspired her. “I owe, in the first instance, becoming a journalist to my mother. … When I told my mother that I wanted to be like [fictional comic reporter] Brenda Starr, she didn’t look at me and say ‘that’s not what little Black girls do in the South.’ … She said, ‘Well, that’s what you want to do,’” Hunter-Gault said. “Nobody in the segregated South ever told me I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.” In explaining this, she refuted the idea that people living in segregation lacked hope and joy.
Instead, Hunter-Gault reiterated throughout the conversation, as well as in her book, themes of the importance of resilience, understanding history and taking action. “We have been challenged for generations, and yet look at us. … Look at me. Now, I’ve had to fight for some of it, but I won — and I’m sure everybody out here could give you a similar story,” Hunter-Gault said.
She talked about former U.S. representative and civil rights activist John Lewis, and how he expressed in the late 1960s that activism within local communities is as important as activism on a national scale. She warned that “we can’t sit at our tables or among our friends and complain about what’s going on in the country and stop there. … We have to get out and talk to people. … It’s up to us to work in whatever capacity [we can].” She continued to explain that communication is vital to progress, and each individual must do their part.
Some students were struck by Hunter-Gault’s ideas about community, and felt inspired to take action. “She really emphasized the necessity of interacting with the real people affected, or ignored, by these political events in order to create real tangible societal change.” Doering said. Doering also stated that she plans to get more involved in her local communities because of Hunter-Gault.
Despite facing violent racism, Hunter-Gault was able to pursue her dreams of going to the University of Georgia and becoming a journalist. She said her ability to be calm and persevere through adversity is owed to her grandmother who taught her Bible verses. One, in particular, helped her through tough times: “[Even] though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, … I will fear no evil.” She explained that the lesson she took away from this, saying, “You don’t have to be a preacher’s kid or the granddaughter of a saint. But if you teach your children history, they will grow up to be very optimistic people, because our history is full of optimism,” Hunter-Gault stated.
Hunter-Gault turns her attention to the positives. “[Hunter-Gault] is a woman that has had to overcome immense hardship at every turn in her career and I thought the way she chose to talk about overcoming those obstacles was beautiful,” Doering stated.
Tatum asked Hunter-Gault to speak about living in South Africa for 17 years. Hunter-Gault said that South Africa is experiencing many similar issues to the United States. “Everywhere you look, democracies are under strain and stress,” Hunter-Gault stated. “I don’t know how many of you know this, but South Africa … was the first country, before this one, to write into its constitution protections for gay people. … It’s time to stop reporting on Africa in terms of the four D’s — death, disease, disaster and despair,” Hunter-Gault said. She wants to highlight positive qualities and not simply emphasize issues.
Hunter-Gault shared some of her reasoning for the title and subject of her book. “I was feeling that it was important to share the good lives of my people. … I got all kinds of people: Black, white, Native American, … but [I] was trying to write about people who have not gotten the kind of attention they should have,” Hunter-Gault said. She said that her book is not for any one type of person. “I look at people as people … [and] this book is for people who want to have some information that they may not otherwise have gotten.”
On the topic of education, Hunter-Gault explained that she is trying to “call for a coalition of the generations.” It is a goal of hers to share her knowledge and understanding with younger people, and learn from them as well.
“We’ve got to communicate and we’ve got to get [young people] interested,” Hunter-Gault said. “I just saw people who have helped make me who I am, and in some ways I thought, ‘How can I repay them and how can I help a younger generation appreciate … what some of the earlier activists were involved in?’”
This idea of turning to the trailblazers who paved the way resonated with the audience. “It was inspiring and reminded me that while so much work has been done, our job now, and yours as young adults [is] to always ensure that underrepresented voices are at the table,” Wood said. “Because we are always stronger when we are together.”
Hunter-Gault and Tatum had a palpable connection on stage. When Tatum asked Hunter-Gault the first question, after a warm introduction, she replied by saying that she might ask her a question later, because Tatum inspired her. “It was obvious that they both had immense respect and admiration for each other and I felt honored to have been able to witness them interact,” Doering stated. Cindie Huerta ’25 also felt inspired by the conversation, and stated, “It was truly powerful to see accomplished women of color who overcame much discrimination in the U.S. be able to come together and have this powerful conversation.”
When looking toward the future, staff from the DEI office shared that they are looking forward to hosting and attending more communitywide events. “I hope that people continue to step out and attend events … to learn about stories and legacies that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to,” Wood said. “Learning about people’s cultures and differences is the way to grow together.”
Hunter-Gault wants everyone to understand the past, learn about those who came before and keep their eyes on the possibilities of the future. “[Our history is] full of pain and tragedy and all of that, but we’ve overcome every time,” Hunter-Gault said. “Now we have to keep on keeping on, but that’s life. That’s life.”