ESCANABA — Author Martha Bloomfield will be at the Escanaba Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. for an author talk about her most recent book, Romanies in Michigan.

The book relates the oral histories of Romanies in the United States and focuses on the Hungarian-Slovak Romani musical community originally from Delray, Michigan. It explores traditional modes of travel; Romanies’ identity, history, perspective, and challenges with non-Romanies; their feelings as a minority group; and their self-efficacy, respect, and pride in their culture and work.

Bloomfield is the author of several books published by Michigan State University Press on marginalized peoples in Michigan–immigrants, migrants and the formerly homeless in an effort to help dissipate prejudice and stereotyping. She gives workshops on oral histories and marginalized peoples to organizations, libraries, and schools. She adapts her programs to all ages and venues to inspire people to discover their own and others’ stories through their voices, artifacts, historical documents, and family photographs. She is a member of the Michigan Humanities Council Touring Directory. Her earlier books include The Sweetness of Freedom: Stories of Immigrants, My Eyes Feel They Need to Cry: Stories from the Formerly Homeless and Hmong Americans in Michigan.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library.

For more information, visit the library’s website at www.escanabalibrary.org, Facebook/Instagram or call 906-789-7323. The Escanaba Public Library is located at 400 Ludington St. in downtown Escanaba.