Working Women’s History Project partnered with Call & Response Books on January 31 to host a reading with Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Associate Professor of history at UIC. She co-authored, with the late Karen Lewis, I Didn’t Come Here to Lie  My Life and Education.

As Lewis’ health worsened and she became unable to complete her memoir, Todd-Breland interviewed her so she could tell the story in Lewis’ voice. She read several passages from the book, written in the first person, which chronicles Lewis’ early life in Chicago, her moves to Oklahoma and Barbados, her return to her home town and her experiences as a teacher and CTU president.  

Despite the cold weather, a large crowd turned out and participated enthusiastically in the discussion following the reading.