Why It Matters: Reckoning with Race. Equity. Allyship.

Join authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal on March 16 from 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. as they discuss their best-selling book, I’m Not Dying With You Tonight, inspired by the death of Baltimorean Freddie Gray. In their conversation, they’ll touch on some of today’s most pressing topics—the recent resurgence of our country’s reckoning with racial inequity, a video that went viral after the death of George Floyd, and reaching beyond platitudes to work together on issues of common concern. The conversation will be moderated by Christine Platt, author and Managing Director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University. The conversation will be followed by Q&A. The event is for teens and adults. Free, but registration required.

This event is funded in part by the “Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Watch the event recording

An NAACP Image Award Nominee, I’m Not Dying With You Tonight follows two teen girls—one black, one white—who have to confront their own assumptions about racial equality as they rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has set their city on fire with civil unrest.

Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she’s going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.

When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.

They aren’t friends. They hardly understand each other’s point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they’re going to survive the night.

Buy a copy of I’m Not Dying With You Tonight through our official event bookseller, A Likely Story Bookstore. 

  • Kimberly Jones, Author
     Kimberly Jones is a former bookseller, and now she Hosts the Atlanta Chapter of the popular Well Read Black Girl book club, as well as the infamous, viral sensation the YA Truth or Dare author panel at the Decatur Book Festival. She has worked in film and television with trailblazing figures such as Tyler Perry, Whitney Houston, and 8Ball & MJG. Currently, in addition to writing YA novels, she is a director of feature films and cutting-edge diverse web series. She also regularly lectures on working and succeeding in the Atlanta film market.
  • Gilly Segal, Author
     Gilly Segal grew up in Florida, came of age in Israel, where she served in the IDF and graduated from Hebrew University, and finally decided to call Decatur, Georgia home. By day, she’s a lawyer for an advertising agency. By night, she is a caped crusader! No, just kidding (she wishes). Her real not-actually-secret identity is writer. She’s been writing in one form or another since she wrote her first young adult novel—a Sunfire YA romance fanfic—typed out on an electric typewriter. Although she will confess it was titled CLAUDIA, she will neither confirm nor deny that any copies still exist. Whatever you do, don’t ask her mom if it’s in those boxes still stored in the closet of her childhood room.
  • Christine Platt, Moderator
     Christine Platt is a passionate advocate for social justice and policy reform. She holds a B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of South Florida, M.A. in African and African American Studies from The Ohio State University, and J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. A believer in the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, Christine’s literature centers on teaching race, equity, diversity and inclusion to people of all ages. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University.

Promotional Partners

Allegany County Library
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Baltimore County Public Library
Carroll County Public Library
Charles County Public Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Harford County Public Library
Prince George’s County Memorial Library System
St. Mary’s County Library
Talbot County Free Library