The day was bright and a libation ceremony was the perfect way to usher in the divine spirit of the past, while basking in the present and looking to the promise of the future. Dr. Brian Kwoba, director of the African American Studies Department at the University of Memphis, and Ekpe Abioto, local culturalist and “edu-tainer” led the ceremony. After calling on the ancestors and a present youth for permission to begin the celebration, it was declared that hearts and minds were clear and ready to receive.
“Happy Black History Month! It’s still legal to say that, right?” exclaimed Joy-Ann M. Lomena Reid to the 350-person crowd on the first (thawed out) Saturday of February. People were ecstatic to be “outside” in the Michael D. Rose Theatre at the University of Memphis on Feb. 7, and even more enthralled to see and hear from Reid, formerly of MSNBC’s “The Reidout,” and current host of The Joy Reid Show.
Reid is the recipient of the 2024 Hooks Institute for Social Change Book Award for her third and most recent book “Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America,” a No.1 New York Times Best Seller.
In its 15th year, the award drew more than 500 book nominations. Reid was the winner among 47 finalists.
Terrance Tucker, the Hooks National Book Award chair and UofM’s English Department chair, said of Reid: “Nikki Giovanni wrote that ‘black life is wealth.’ She uses it to describe how she wanted people to write about her and center her story on black life being black wealth. Reid tells this story under this guise.”
Reid’s book, he said, is “a story about their work together and how it was an extension of their love.”
Before welcoming Reid onto the stage, he acknowledged the award committee, composed of Black professors from universities across the city. He then introduced local poet, Flo Roach, who shared a poem about love and what the Everses might have said to each other on their wedding day, as an instrumental version of “I Will Always Love You” aptly played in the background.
Reid recounted her inspiration for the book. “The way she (Myrlie Evers-Williams) talked about him (Medgar) as the love of her life, you’d think he was still alive, though it’s been six decades since he was murdered,” Reid said. “I realized there had never been a Civil Rights love story — at least I’d never read one. So, I pitched it and I decided to write one.”
Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., show their support for Joy-Ann Reid during the Hooks Institute for Social Change Book Award celebration at the Michael D. Rose Theatre. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Rorie Trammel, associate director of the Hooks Institute for Social Change, presents Joy-Ann Reid with the institute’s annual Book Award on Feb. 7, 2026, at the University of Memphis. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
The stage is set at the Michael D. Rose Theatre during the Hooks Institute for Social Change Book Award program featuring author and journalist Joy-Ann Reid at the University of Memphis. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Attendees fill the Michael D. Rose Theatre at the University of Memphis for the Hooks Institute for Social Change Book Award ceremony honoring Joy-Ann Reid on Feb. 7, 2026. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Poet Flo Roach delivers a reading during the Hooks Institute for Social Change Book Award ceremony honoring Joy-Ann Reid at the University of Memphis. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Dr. Terrence Tucker, chair of the Hooks National Book Award Committee and University of Memphis English Department chair, addresses attendees during the award ceremony honoring Joy-Ann Reid. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender) 
Daphene McFerren, executive director of the Hooks Institute for Social Change, offers remarks during the Book Award ceremony at the Michael D. Rose Theatre on Feb. 7, 2026. (Photos: Gary Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
Reid had met with Evers-Williams on several occasions and grew more and more fond of the couple’s love story. “I have always been a big admirer of Myrlie Evers-Williams, ever since she and Maxine Waters were guests on my show, ‘AM Joy’,” said Reid.
“Myrlie would oftentimes ask Medgar if he loved them (her and their three children) more than his work, and he said he did the work because he loved her and their kids,” said Reid.
Program moderator Tonyaa Weathersbee, a journalist and UofM’s Hardin Chair of Excellence professor, asked Reid about her decision to tell a love story.
“You couldn’t have done what he was doing without talking about love. Love gives you strength … super powers,” Reid responded.
“This is a love story in three parts: 1. The love of a couple who had problems like the rest of us, with kids and lunches and challenges; 2. The love story of a man who loved Mississippi; 3. A story about the love of this country,” Reid continued.
“This was a 50s housewife, cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids. She was also his secretary, so she typed all of his speeches, letters. … We have to start including the women. We can’t pretend these men did things all on their own.”
A natural-born storyteller and a Harvard-educated documentary filmmaker, Reid illustrates Medgar Evers’ work for the NAACP, his fight for justice for Emmitt Till and his fight to desegregate University of Mississippi through this unique “love” lens. As she recounted scene after scene, one might consider adding “historian” to her list of titles.
Reid said she was always interested in politics and that her mother encouraged her and her siblings to think for themselves.
“My mother was a dedicated voter, a dedicated democrat and was always up for a political debate,” said Reid. “We grew up watching the nightly news and weighed in on political matters.”
The story Reid tells in the book is quite political. Among other topics, Reid explores how Evers-Williams fought for nearly three decades to secure accountability for Evers’ murder and bring justice to his legacy.
“When she wants something, she’s driven, relentless and doesn’t stop until she gets it. Specifically, the proper acknowledgement and honor for her beloved Medgar,” said Reid.
“It takes courage to support and fight for freedom — it also takes us to do it.”
The day also included brief addresses from Daphene McFerren, Hooks Institute executive director, and Rorie Trammel, its associate director and director of Hooks Academic Achievement & Mentoring Initiative (HAAMI).
Fun fact: Evers-Williams, Reid, Weathersbee and Trammel are all members of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc.
