Upstate International Month 2018 Community Book Read:
Born A Crime: Stories of a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. His unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison.
Clemson University has always supported Upstate International Month and 2018 was no exception. Once again, Clemson Broadcast Productions gathered a group of experts together, hosted a panel discussion of our UI Month Community Book, Born A Crime and video-taped the results… Hosted by Marty Duckenfield. Click here to watch this informative and engaging panel discussion.
For more information on the panel, see below:
- Marty Duckenfield, Host, Associate Producer at Clemson Broadcast Studios and Manager of the Christopher J. Duckenfield Scholars Program.
- Dr. Abel A. Bartley, Ph.D. Director of Pan-African Studies, History Department
- Rami Major ’19, Major: Genetics; Minor: Spanish; recent traveler to Africa
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Upstate International Month 2017 Community Book Read:
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni
In the Fall of 2016, all incoming Freshmen at Clemson University read One Amazing Thing, by Dr. Chitra Divakaruni. The author came to campus to discuss this book with the Freshmen, and answered many of their questions. Upstate International has also chosen this book for its annual Community Book Read for International Month in March of 2017, so hundreds of readers throughout the Upstate can now hear firsthand from the author, a professor at the University of Houston.
One Amazing Thing explores what happens when a group of nine people are stuck in the visa office of the Indian Consulate in an American city after a massive earthquake. As they wait to be rescued or die they each share one amazing thing about their life. Initially the natural selfish instinct for survival overtakes all the nine people, until they realize that the only way they might be able to stay alive is if they share whatever little food and water they have. After initial resistance everybody agrees and Uma suggests that each one shares the story of one amazing thing that has happened in their life to pass time, keep fear at bay and forget about the pain they are suffering because of their injuries.
Click here to see the author’s talk with Clemson Freshmen and the following question and answer session.
Clemson University has always been a major supporter of Upstate International Month each March. As part of this month which focuses on the diversity of our Upstate community, Clemson Broadcast Productions hosted a conversation on the Community Book Read: One Amazing Thing. The panelists include Dr. Brandon Jones, Assistant Director of the Academic Success Center, Jumah Taweh, lecturer in the Department of Communication, and Callahan Moore, freshman in the Honors College.
Click here to see the video panel discussion of One Amazing Thing.
Like last year, we would like to invite all libraries and educational institutions to organize a book read and discussion on One Amazing Thing.
A resource page with possible questions and answers about the book will be posted online in due time.
Libraries can post their discussion times on our events page. The events will be added below as well as on our Upstate International Calendar.
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Upstate International Month 2016 Community Book Read:

Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II by Vicki Croke
One of the many cultural activities of Upstate International Month is the Community Book Read, and this year the book is Elephant Company by Vicki Croke. A panel discussion was recently held at Clemson University to provide readers of this fascinating and inspiring book with multiple perspectives. The panel was led by Dr. Gregory Bruce, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at North Greenville University. Also participating in the discussion were Clemson professors Dr. Stephanie Barczewski, professor of history, and Dr. Daniel Wueste, professor of philosophy and director of the Rutland Institute for Ethics. Joining the professors were David Esch, Chair, International Task Force for Greenville Forward’s Vision 2025 and Amy Park, Director of Research and Operations, Findnewmarkets – USC/USC-Upstate.
Click here for the video panel discussion on The Elephant Company that was held at the Broadcasting Studios of Clemson University.