By Jeremy Moore/ campus news editor
Photos by Bogdan Sierra Miranda/The Collegian
Singing, dancing and poetry performances took place at SE Campus’ African-American Read-In Feb. 25.
SE students and faculty gathered to honor the work of artists such as Langston Hughes, Marianne Williamson, James Baldwin and many others. Fort Worth National Poetry Slams founder Mike Guinn also performed a poem comprised of words suggested by the audience.
African-American Read-Ins began in 1990 to honor the artistic work of African-Americans.
SE academic affairs vice president Zena Jackson put read-ins together before she arrived on SE Campus, but this event stood out to her. She believes that this event will benefit students.
“They were exposed to authors, musicians and songs that they may have never heard of,” she said. “Hopefully, they’ll go back and research to see what these people were really all about. Maybe something they heard in one of the presentations got their interest just enough for them to go back and take a look.”
SE student Ashley Durant’s favorite performance came from SE associate professor Bradley Borougerdi, who recited James Baldwin’s A Talk to Teachers.
“His poem really resonated with me, but all of the performances were amazing,” she said. “If we were ever to do this again even outside of Black History Month, I’d love it, anything like this, no matter what the culture.”
SE student Rae Dunk is a former member of the modern dance class who came out to see the Rhapsody Movement Company perform and to get a different perspective of other people.
“I’ll definitely be back next year,” she said. “I really did enjoy it.”
SE English instructor Frances Suarez recited Salvation by Langston Hughes, and she enjoyed doing the presentation.
“I’ve always been a fan of Langston Hughes,” she said. “I use the work in my Composition I classes to inspire my students to write a narrative of their own about an experience that changed their lives.”
SE student development associate Frankie Ward helped put the event together for the second straight year, and she may give a performance of her own next year.
“I’m a professional drummer, so I’m trying to do something myself,” she said. “I wasn’t ready this year, but hopefully next year I will be.”
