Author Neil J. Smith will be holding a virtual book discussion at the Queens Public Library on the 8th of February to celebrate Black History Month. The event will take place between 7 to 8 pm. The discussion will be moderated by Charles C. Smith and will discuss in length the book, On the Ropes, written by Smith. The event will be held virtually through Facebook events, and a link has been provided for participants to join. The event is part of a larger celebration of Black History Month at Queens Public Library, where this year, the harsh realities that affect the health of the black community are being highlighted through various events and activities. The book, On the Ropes, is about Percival Jones, who is a young boxer and African American. His life takes a drastic turn due to some tragic events. The novel is set in the 1960s when the African American community was struggling with racism and white supremacy. The events told throughout the book echo what many in the black community faced when trying to grapple with discrimination during this time in American history.   Neil J. Smith was a boxer at the young age of 12. He continued to box for many years after and was even crowned the All-Army champion. Smith participated in various civil rights movements including, the Black Panther Party. He graduated from NYU in creative writing, poetry, and literature. He was vice president of the New York Quarterly for 15 years and is now living in upstate New York with his wife.