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Maureen Ramirez

Annual 'Mockingbird' reader: Black Lives Matter gives new insight

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Author Harper Lee
Pulitzer Prize winner and 'To Kill A Mockingbird' author Harper Lee smiles before receiving the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House Nov. 5, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom is given to those who have made remarkable contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, culture, or other private or public endeavors.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images 2007

Harper Lee's book "Go Set a Watchman" was out on bookshelves this morning, the much anticipated sequel to "To Kill a Mockingbird."

"Mockingbird" is a pretty personal book for many people including Maureen Ramirez of West St. Paul, a former University of Minnesota regent.

It's an annual read for her, but this year the themes of "Mockingbird" were reflected for her in events like Ferguson.

She joined MPR News' Tom Weber to talk about how the context of the Black Lives Matter movement gives new insight into the story.

Ramirez's essay mentioned on air: