· Author Sidney Thompson (above, left) will lead a presentation on Bass Reeves (above, right), the subject of his award-winning trilogy of history novels (above, center).
· Reeves was born into slavery, fought in the Civil War, escaped to Indian Territory and became one of the earliest Black U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River.
· “The Bass Reeves Trilogy” served as the inspiration for the Golden Globe-nominated Paramount+ miniseries “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”
· All events featuring Thompson are FREE and open to the public.
In conjunction with Black History Month, the DMACC War and Human Experience Speaker Series will host four events with Sidney Thompson, author of “The Bass Reeves Trilogy,” on Mon., Feb. 26, and Tues., Feb. 27, at the DMACC Ankeny, Boone and Urban Campuses, and at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines. All events are free and open to the public.
Thompson will lead a presentation on Bass Reeves, the subject of his award-winning trilogy of history novels, during each event. The novels narrate the life of Reeves, who was born into slavery in 1838, fought in the Civil War, escaped to Indian Territory and became one of the earliest Black U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River. The first two books of “The Bass Reeves Trilogy” recently served as the inspiration for the Golden Globe-nominated Paramount+ miniseries “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” directed by Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” fame and starring actor David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King, Jr., in the acclaimed 2014 film “Selma.”
“The DMACC War and the Human Experience Speaker Series encourages civic responsibility by teaching students about conflicts, past and present, and about the pioneering service of those who have come before us,” said DMACC History Professor Matt Walsh, PhD, Coordinator of the DMACC War and the Human Experience Speaker Series. “In celebration of Black History Month, we are excited to welcome author Sidney Thompson to speak about his research and writing on Bass Reeves, who is an often-overlooked figure in history despite being one of America’s most remarkable and unique heroes.”
Schedule of events: DMACC hosts author Sidney Thompson
The DMACC War and the Human Experience Series will host the following events with author Sidney Thompson on Feb. 26-27. All events are free, and members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend, along with DMACC students, staff and faculty.
- BOONE: Monday, Feb. 26, 12-12:50 p.m., DMACC Boone Campus Auditorium, 1125 Hancock Dr., Boone, IA 50036 (map)
- DES MOINES: Monday, Feb. 26, 6:30-8 p.m., Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310 (website)
- DES MOINES: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 9:40-11 a.m., DMACC Urban Campus, 1100 7th St., Bldg. 1, Room 141, Des Moines, IA 50314 (map)
- ANKENY: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 12:50-2:10 p.m., DMACC Ankeny Campus, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Bldg. 2, Room 25A, Ankeny, IA 50023 (map)
For more information about the DMACC War and the Human Experience Speaker Series, visit dmacc.edu/veterans/series.html.
About DMACC
DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) is one of America’s top-rated two-year institutions of higher learning. DMACC is dedicated to changing lives by offering an accessible, affordable and outstanding educational experience to students from across Iowa and the nation. Situated in one of the country’s most vibrant regions, DMACC is proud to welcome students of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs to a diverse and inclusive College community. DMACC offers 10 career pathways, which encompass more than 220 credit and non-credit programs, degrees and certificates available to students. Each year, DMACC serves approximately 55,000 students across the College’s six campuses and seven learning centers and through DMACC Online. Students from every state in the nation and 41 countries now attend DMACC. Our talented graduates excel in the workforce and in life. For more information, please visit dmacc.edu.
(contributed article and photos, Sidney Thompson Courtesy of Sidney Thompson, “The Bass Reeves Trilogy” by author Sidney Thompson Courtesy of Bison Books, Image of Bass Reeves © Western History Collections—University of Oklahoma.)
