Alabama-based author Randi Pink announced her hope to visit Pine-Richland after the district’s school board voted not to include her novel, “Angel of Greenwood,” in its ninth -grade language arts classes.
The novel, a young adult romance set during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, was rejected 3-5-1 during the board’s Monday meeting.
Although the board approved, 5-4, a revised ninth grade language arts curriculum that could have included the novel, members ultimately voted down Pink’s work. Joseph Cassidy, Ashley Fortier and Amy Terchick voted in favor of the novel’s inclusion while Phillip Morissette, Lisa Hillman, Marc Casciani, Christina Brussalis and Michael Wiethorn rejected it. Leslie Miller abstained.
Morissette, Hillman and Brussalis all expressed skepticism about whether the novel was at a high enough literary level for a ninth grade curriculum.
In a statement, Pink thanked those who supported her book at the lengthy meeting. But the author also said she seeks to meet those with reservations about her work to “reach common ground” in “healthy and productive dialogue.”
“I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to those who fought for ‘Angel of Greenwood,’ especially to the students who bravely used your voices and stood for what you believe in the most challenging of circumstances. You inspire me more than you know. I am honored to witness your resolve and steadfastness,” she said in the statement.
The Birmingham native also is the author of “Girls Like Us” and the recently released “Under the Heron’s Light.” This year, she is serving as the Alabama State Council of the Arts Fellow for Prose.
Elise Duckworth, a Pine-Richland junior who spoke at Monday’s meeting, said she hopes Pink’s potential visit could help “get through to students,” but she expressed skepticism about the board’s intentions.
“It just shows that this fight is bigger than people realize,” Duckworth said.
As a parent, Pink said she understands the “difficulty of knowing when and how to introduce challenging topics and themes,” but she hopes a discussion can help address “specific concerns and choices.”
“My hands may be shaking a bit, but I want to hear you. My hope is to part ways with steady hands and a clearer understanding of not only ‘Angel of Greenwood,’ but also of our shared humanity,” Pink said.
It is unclear when or where the author may appear, though she mentioned “a local library” as her venue of choice. Before meeting, Pink asked that potential attendees read the novel.