By Stacey Axler<\/p>\n
Acclaimed author and journalist Wil Haygood visited Hood\u2019s campus on March 19 for a day filled with lectures and discussions as a part of the College\u2019s celebration of the 50 year anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.<\/p>\n
Haygood, author of \u201cThe Butler: A Witness to History,\u201d a book that stemmed from his research and subsequent article about the longtime service of White House butler Eugene Allen, visited journalism classes, local community members, and different campus organization leaders before concluding his day in Hodson Auditorium with a speech and book signing.<\/p>\n
During the 2008 presidential election, Haygood said he felt a \u201cjournalist\u2019s intuition\u201d that Barack Obama would win.\u00a0 He wanted to write about the election from a different angle; with the perspective of someone that Obama\u2019s election would mean more than the average person.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started my research, I said I wanted to find someone that had worked in the White House for a long time,\u201d Haygood said.\u00a0 \u201cI talked to my editor about several jobs, a driver, a maid, and finally I said \u2018or a butler.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Haygood spoke to a feature writing class and other journalism students about his interviewing and story writing techniques when he was writing \u201cThe Butler.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJournalism is like shoe leather,\u201d Haygood said.\u00a0 \u201cYou need to put a lot of time and effort in to your interviews. I picked up the phone over 50 times before I found Eugene Allen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Butler\u201d chronicles Allen\u2019s time in the White House.\u00a0 Allen worked during eight presidential terms, and witnessed major historical events first-hand, such as the Civil Rights movement and the effect of the Kennedy Assassination.<\/p>\n
The original article Haygood wrote, published in The Washington Post in 2008 after the presidential election was later expanded into the 112 page book.<\/p>\n
Last year, a film version of the book titled \u201cThe Butler\u201d directed by Lee Daniels was released starring Forrest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Lee Daniels did a fine job turning my book into a feature film,\u201d Haygood said.<\/p>\n
Haygood always enjoyed writing and dreamed of writing books.<\/p>\n
Before writing non-fiction books like \u201cThe Butler,\u201d Haygood worked as a copy editor at The Charleston Gazette before becoming a national and foreign correspondent at The Boston Globe.\u00a0 In 2002, Haygood began a career as a national and foreign affairs writer at The Washington Post.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Butler\u201d became Haygood\u2019s fifth book; his other nonfiction works include: \u201cKing of the Cats: The Life and Times of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr\u201d published in 1993, \u201cThe Haygoods of Columbus\u201d published in 1997, \u201cIn Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr\u201d published in 2003, and \u201cSweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson\u201d published in 2009.<\/p>\n
Haygood\u2019s visit was one segment of Hood\u2019s 50th Anniversary Events.<\/p>\n
While those who attended Haygood\u2019s programming appreciated his visit, Haygood equally enjoyed his time at Hood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been meaning to visit Hood for a while,\u201d Haygood said. \u00a0\u201cI have enjoyed my time here.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"