Courtesy photo Author Isabel Wilkerson and her most recent book, "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration," will be the topic of discussion at Mayor Jim Donchess's Book Club event on March 4. (Courtesy photo)

NASHUA – The Mayor’s Virtual Book Club, an online book-discussion program Mayor Jim Donchess created last year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, will meet next the evening of March 4.

The featured book – “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration,” is the work of prominent African American author Isabel A. Wilkerson, who traces the history of racism in the South through the lives of three unique individuals.

First published in 2010, “The Warmth of Other Suns” features “stunning historical detail,” according to one reviewer, as Wilkerson explains why African-Americans migrated to Northern cities to find better opportunities.

Three local panelists will lead the book discussion, which will be followed by a question and answer period.

The panelists are former state representative Harvey Keye, a longtime civil rights activist; Irving Scales, chairman of Southern New Hampshire Outreach for Black Unity, and Fran Keenan, the director of library services at Nashua Community College.

The program, which begins at 7 p.m., is tied to Nashua’s observance of February’s National African American History Month, but it was necessary to push it into early March due to scheduling issues.

A full story will appear in The Sunday Telegraph.

In the meantime, anyone wishing to participate in the event must register by going to www.nashuanh.gov/1421/Mayors-Virtual-Book-Club. Scroll down and select the link “register for the virtual book club.”

Event login information will then be sent to registrants.

The final day to register is Monday, March 1.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.