W. Ralph Eubanks discussed his new memoir, Ever is a Long Time: A Journey into Mississippi's Dark Past
Event Date: September 17, 2003
W. Ralph Eubanks, the director of the Publishing Office at the Library of Congress, discussed his new memoir,
"Ever is a Long Time: A Journey Into Mississippi's Dark Past" (Basic Books, 2003), on Wednesday, Sept. 17,
at the Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. S.E. in Washington, D.C.
Eubanks, who has been director of the Library’s Publishing Office since 1995, is a native of Mount Olive, Miss.
“Ever is a Long Time” describes what it was like to grow up as an African American in Mississippi in the 1960s.
It is set against the backdrop of the assassinations of Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King, forcible school integration,
and the files of the once-secret Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission.
In 1956 the state of Mississippi created the State Sovereignty Commission to monitor the activities of people who
challenged Jim Crow segregation. Eubanks was surprised to discover that his ordinary parents, who were members
of the NAACP, were on the infamous list. This horrific discovery led to his journey into the past, resulting in the
creation of his new book.
The program is part of the Center for the Book's author series, Books & Beyond, which showcases new books
of special relevance to the Library of Congress. Center for the Book was established in 1977 to use the resources
and prestige of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books, reading, literacy, and libraries.
For information about its program, consult its Web site at
The Center for the Book
