Relevant Hearsay: Stories at 57

Shirley Carney’s stories reflect the journey of a Black woman nearing a half century of living. Her voice is distinctive, and her characters capture the complexity of her varied experiences. She was born in rural Mississippi, transplanted to Chicago by her teens, served in the Navy during the Vietnam era, and became an unwed mother, all before her 21st birthday. Now living in Texas, she continues to straddle the fence between urban sensibilities and rural practicality. Relevant Hearsay is not so much a staging as it is a sharing of that which should be spoken, and that which needs to be heard. 

Written by Shepsu Aakhu
Adapted from the works of Shirley Carney