Inheriting the Trade was published January 9, 2008 by Beacon Press. The January publication date was selected in honor of the 200th anniversary of the effective date of the law which made slave trading in the United States a federal offense. The author began a book tour at that time. This schedule will be updated as events become confirmed.

For events that have already taken place, please click here.

April 24, 6:30pm: The Legacy of 1808, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two screenings (6:30 & 8:30) of Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, Q&A with Katrina Browne and Tom DeWolf, book signing to follow each screening. Fun note: this event was originally scheduled for April 16. We were “bumped” by two people named Hillary and Barack who decided to debate on the 16th in advance of the Pennsylvania primary on April 22. Katrina and I graciously deferred… ;o)

April 29, 7:00-9:00am: CBS's The Early Show. Tom DeWolf and Katrina Browne are scheduled to be interviewed live on this national television news program from the CBS studios in New York City. The caveat, of course, is that this is a news program. A breaking news story that morning could result in us being bumped. We’re hoping for a “slow news day” so we’ll be able to participate in this incredible opportunity to reach a national audience about Inheriting the Trade and Traces of the Trade. Though we won’t know the exact time of our interview—and whether this will indeed happen—until we are live on the set with Harry Smith, the book-related interviews have typically been broadcast during the last half hour of The Early Show.

UPDATE: The CBS interview was indeed "bumped" by breaking news of a series of tornadoes in Virginia. The interview would have been preempted on the West Coast due to President Bush's press conference. The interview was taped and we were told it will run at some point in the near future. We'll make note of it here when we have a date.

May 2-3: Episcopal Diocese of Maryland annual convention, Baltimore Convention Center. Author will be available to meet with attendees both days of the convention, courtesy of St. Bede’s Books and the Reparations Committee of the Maryland Diocese. Tom has also been asked to briefly address the convention on Saturday morning about his family’s journey in making Traces of the Trade during a discussion of reparations as regards the Church.

May 6, 6:30pm: Council on Foundations Philanthropy Summit, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland. Off site, at the newly opened Newseum in Washington, DC, a reception and screening of Traces of the Trade, followed by a dialogue on race and class that will include Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, NewsHour journalist Judy Woodruff and Ambassador James Joseph, Professor of Public Policy Studies & Executive Director, Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at Duke University.

May 7, 10:00am: Council on Foundations Philanthropy Summit, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland. “Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media: Race, Class and Privilege: An On-going Dialogue” Panel discussion with filmmaker Katrina Brown, author Thomas DeWolf, and Political Science Professor Franklin Gilliam on race, class and privilege in America and how we might talk about these subjects in an honest and open way.

May 7, 11:30am: Council on Foundations Philanthropy Summit, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland. Book signing following the panel discussion will take place at the Resource Central area at the Gaylord.

May 10, 6:00pm: Davies Forum, Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 7400 Temple Hill Rd., Camp Springs, Maryland. Author reading, Q&A, book signing.

May 17, 5:00pm: Sunriver Books & Music, Sunriver Village Building 25C, Sunriver, Oregon. Author reading, Q&A, book signing. This appearance is sponsored by Caldera Springs Resort. Sunriver Books & Music has also named Inheriting the Trade its Non-Fiction Book Club Selection for June. Two weeks after the author reading on May 17, the book club will meet to discuss Inheriting the Trade June 2, 6:30pm.

June 3-8: Newport International Film Festival. Traces of the Trade is one of the featured documentaries in the 2008 NIFF. We will add screening dates/times when they are released around May 9.

June 4, 11:00am: Historic Redwood Library, 50 Bellevue Ave, Newport, Rhode Island. In partnership with the Newport International Film Festival, Tom DeWolf will appear at the Redwood Library for a reading, Q&A, and book signing.

June 28, 1:30pm: Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, which takes place June 25-29: Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, Florida. Workshop led by author Thomas DeWolf to examine the complicated legacy of slavery, a fresh look at history, tools to overcome racism, and a path toward a more hopeful future. Followed by book signing.