By Ashley Bradley/ne news editor
NE Campus will celebrate Black History Month and Mardi Gras in this year’s African-American Read-in 12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 16 in NSTU Center Corner.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to read their favorite piece of literature written by an African-American author.
English instructor Shewanda Riley organized the event, which is in its second year on NE Campus. Last year, the English department wanted to bring something to NE Campus that both raised awareness of black authors and celebrated Black History Month, she said.
“We thought doing it on Mardi Gras and serving Mardi Gras food would be a great and unique way to bring the campus together,” Riley said.
Over a million readers from 49 different states, the West Indies and numerous African countries have taken part in the read-in since it began February 1991 with the goal of celebrating African-American literacy for Black History Month.
Riley said a couple of people have already signed up for the event including NE student Mary Gasway, who will read Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise.”
Gasway said Angelou is one of her favorite poets, and it’s great that she is an iconic African-American. She said this poem moves her every time she reads it.
“Her poem talks about her ancestors of slavery, but she puts a positive light on it in spite of any hardships,” she said. “She’s saying in the poem, you don’t have to wear it on your sleeve, that you can still rise.”
Reading instructor James Branch plans on reading a piece from his book published in 2008. The Vacant Pews studies why men don’t like to attend church on a normal basis, he said.
“I asked many men their stigmas about going to church and put it all together,” he said. “It ended up being mostly about African-American men. It seemed like more and more people jumped on the bandwagon about the title.”
To sign up to read a piece in this event, visit www.tccreadin.com.
