Educator, author brings 2-book series to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — Scholar, author, and theologian Dr. George Walters-Sleyon will travel to New Orleans Feb. 19-21 as one of 14 featured authors in the 10th Annual Black History Month Literary Weekend.

During the event, Dr. Walters-Sleyon will present his groundbreaking two-book series, The Rush for Black Diamonds, which focuses on the intellectual foundations of slavery that provided the philosophical and political blueprints for race-based hierarchies that persist today. 

A native of Liberia and a global scholar, Dr. Walters-Sleyon is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and a faculty member at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA. He speaks regularly on the intersections of race, philosophy, and faith, and uses the metaphor of “Black diamonds” to reclaim the value and dignity of Black life. His work has earned praise from educators, clergy, and social justice advocates worldwide.

“Economic greed alone didn’t sustain slavery,” Dr. Walters-Sleyon said. “It was also upheld by ideas—theories of property, freedom, and humanity that excluded Africans by design. Understanding those ideas is crucial if we hope to dismantle the remnants of their power today.”

The Black History Month Literary Weekend, hosted by Meet the World Image Solutions, is a weekend of music, comedy, and books, solely focused on fostering literacy while celebrating African-American authors and businesses. Since its inception in New Orleans in 2017, the event has promoted more than 100 authors, impacted thousands of students, and contributed more than $6,000 in scholarships, awards, and book donations. 

Meet the World Image Solutions is a boutique literary and publicity services company that specializes in assisting small businesses, non-profit organizations, authors, and artists. It was founded in New Orleans on Jan. 23, 2017, by author and U.S. Army veteran Dr. Rhonda M. Lawson, and continues to be a beacon for literary and cultural enrichment.