The Department of English, Humanities and Foreign Languages at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff joined more than 1 million readers in the National African American Read-In.
The 39th annual UAPB African American Read-In was held at the John Brown Watson Memorial Library's auditorium recently, according to a news release.
The program participants included Henry Brooks, Jackie Faucette, Mary Debra Hester-Clifton (author), Beverly James (author), Portia Jones, Mary Parker, and Kevin Sanders.
AARI is an effort to encourage communities to read together, centering on African American books and authors. Its mission is to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world. Readers of all ethnic groups from the United States, the District of Columbia, the West Indies, African countries and more have participated, according to the release.
During February, schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens were urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting an African-American Read-In.
Hosting an event can include bringing together friends to share a book, poem, drama or can be done by arranging public readings and media presentations that feature African American writers, according to the release.
Kevin Sanders, assistant professor of English and interim chair of the department, was host of the UAPB African American Read-In Program.
The read-in allows students and faculty to showcase their "talent and creativity for literacy" by reading their original works and reading classic works by Black writers. This year's program submissions included:
Mary (Debra) Hester-Clifton (staff), original poetry: "Wet Bootstraps," "Look up, Way in the Middle of the Air," "Wade vs. Roe Woe," and "Breaking the "Ism -- Glass Ceiling of Racism, Sexism, Ageism."
James Johnson (student), original poetry "Past Thoughts."
Jackie Faucette (staff), poetry by Langston Hughes, "The Negro Mother."
Mary Parker (faculty), original poetry, "Whole New World."
Beverly James (student), original book except, "Also Known As.... Trilogy."
Breanna Bates (student), original poetry, "Whispers in the Nursery."
Kyontae Sanders (student), original poetry, "Black."
Henry Brooks (faculty), W.E.B. DuBois' book excerpt, "Souls of Black Folks."
Portia Jones (former staff), a dramatic excerpt entitled "Elaine."
Kevin Sanders (interim chair), August Wilson's play excerpt, "Fences."
Sanders is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. He thanked students, staff, faculty, and community guests who attended the event.
The event was hosted at UAPB through the English Department since it was first organized in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English.
At its November 1989 meeting, the Black Caucus accepted the issues committee's recommendation that the Black Caucus sponsor a nationwide read-in. Also, the read-in is endorsed by the International Reading Association, now as the International Literacy Association, a global advocacy and membership organization with a mission to transform lives through literacy across 75 countries, according to the news release.