Indiana Humanities to host conversation with award- winning author Dr. Tiya Miles in April

Join award-winning author Dr. Tiya Miles and Indiana Humanities for an evening INconversation at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis on April 25 at 6pm. Miles will discuss her book, All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake, which was selected by Indiana Humanities for its 2024 One State / One Story statewide read program.

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One State / One Story is part of the organization’s Advancing Racial Equity programming, which supports discussions of history and memory and how engaging with the past can help Hoosiers understand contemporary injustices and strive for racial equity.

Miles will be in conversation with Dr. Joseph Tucker Edmonds, an associate professor of religious studies and Africana studies at Indiana University Indianapolis School of Liberal Arts and is also the associate director for the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture in Indianapolis.

“For so many reasons, All That She Carried was the perfect choice for this year’s community read and I’m thrilled that Dr. Miles will be here in person to share more about its themes of hope, survival and legacy,” said Megan Telligman, director of programs at Indiana Humanities. “I’m looking forward to unpacking how she contemplates the history of a single object and utilizes the humanities to imagine a more just future.”

All That She Carried chronicles the history of an embroidered cotton sack. Moving from the objects in the sack — histories of hair, pecans and dresses — to broader histories such as the architecture of South Carolina, the fabric of the sack cloth, the method of embroidery and the language of the inscription, Miles looks at the object from all angles.

Through her storytelling, a possible history of three women and their enduring love is revealed.

All events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and registration is required. You can register for the INconversation here.