(Hillsborough, N.C.) - Durham Technical Community College, in conjunction with the North Central Literacy Collaborative’s celebration of the “The Big Read” project, hosts a discussion of John Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath" on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Orange Country Campus. The discussion focuses on the historical context and setting of the book. Dr. David Long, chair and instructor of the Durham Tech Social Sciences and Humanities department, along with Theresa Fine-Pawsey, a Durham Tech English instructor, will facilitate the discussion.

Entitled "Okie Road Trip: Dust Bowl Migration to California," the presentation will analyze the causes of the Dust Bowl and the subsequent movement of Southwesterners out of the region. The migration, immortalized in "The Grapes of Wrath," brought "Okie” subculture to California and ultimately altered the cultural landscape of the state. Evangelical Protestantism and country music were just two products which the Okies brought west to the Central Valley and to Los Angeles.

The Orange County Campus lobby will feature Depression-era photography from noted photographer Dorothea Lange, as well as numerous Orange County photos from the era. Steinback’s books and those related to the author and the Depression will also be on display.

Dr. Long received his doctorate in American History with a focus on Western urban and environmental issues from UNC-Chapel Hill. His published articles include works on California history, which have appeared in "The Journal of the West" and "American Cities and Towns: Historical Perspectives."

For directions to the Orange County Campus, visit http://www.durhamtech.edu/orangecountycampus.htm

The North Central Literacy Collaborative kicked off a six-week focus of "The Grapes of Wrath" Sept. 13 with speakers, Depression-era music, vintage cars, and more. To find out other area events associated with The Big Read, visit the local website www.bigreadnc.org  All events are free and open to the public.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to preserve reading as an important part of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by W.K. Kellogg Foundation.