Wil Haygood, the author of The Butler: A Witness to History, which was adapted into the 2013 film The Butler, will speak at BASIS Independent McLean this Friday.
“We’re honored to host Mr. Haygood, whose story is not only inspirational, but also brings a wealth of knowledge to our own budding writers at our school,” Sean Aiken, the head of school at BASIS, said in a press release.
The Butler documents the life of Eugene Allen, an African-American man who served as butler for eight presidents, from Harry S. Truman until his 1986 retirement during Ronald Reagan’s administration following 34 years of government service. Allen died in 2010.
Director Lee Daniels adapted Haygood’s book for the screen in 2013, starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo and Cuba Gooding Jr.—among others. The movie was nominated for several awards and took home two NAACP Image awards.
Haygood’s second book, Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America, was published last year. It details Marshall’s nomination to the Supreme Court, making him the first African-American justice to sit on the country’s highest court.
Haygood’s appearance will take place March 10 at the McLean school from 6:30-8 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. Haygood will touch on his own trajectory from an Ohio housing project to acclaimed author, his work researching Allen’s life, his writing process and his experience working on a movie. He will also sign books, and copies of both The Butler and Showdown will be available for purchase at BASIS.
