OUTSIDER: Stories of Growing Up Black in the Adirondacks

The ADKX hosts another virtual book discussion.

“Outsider: Stories of Growing Up Black in the Adirondacks” details Alice Paden Green’s experiences as her family grappled with poverty, race and acceptance in the mid-20th century.

The Adirondack Park is home to majestic mountains and pristine lakes, rivers and streams, as well as approximately 138,000 full-time residents in 101 towns and villages.

The cover of “Outsider: Stories of Growing Up Black in the Adirondacks”, a memoir by Alice Paden Green

Witherbee is a hamlet in one of those small towns, and it is where Author Alice Paden Green learned a harsh reality about race growing up Black in a predominantly white area.

This memoir, prompted by a recent gathering of Blacks and whites in the Adirondacks for a discussion on race relations, explores perceptions of Black families in the ‘50s and ‘60s and whether Blacks are still viewed as outsiders or welcomed with open arms in this four-season, recreational playground dominated by white residents.

The Adirondack Experience (ADKX) will host a virtual program featuring the author. This book adds to the narrative on whether more work should be done to diversify the Adirondack region.

About the Author: Dr. Alice Paden Green.

Dr. Alice Paden Green is an African American woman who grew up in the Adirondacks during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1985, she founded and is the Executive Director of the Center for Law and Justice, a community-based human and civil rights organization located in the Capital District region of the State. Its primary mission is to promote understanding of the civil/criminal legal system and advocate for social justice.

For more information, visit the event page on the ADKX website.

Places to explore near Blue Mountain Lake.

Note: While this is a virtual event, we strongly encourage you to visit the ADKX next time you're in the Central Adirondacks. Here are some suggestions of places to visit while you’re there.

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Upcoming events in the Central Adirondacks.