RWC will celebrate Black History month throughout February with several events highlighted by the 22nd Annual National African American Read-In (NAARI), on Monday, February 21. The Read-In will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Muntz Hall Lobby. Special guest author Dr. Lillian Hawkins, along with RWC faculty, staff, and students, will read excerpts from books of prose and poetry written by African American authors. Dr. Hawkins, author of “Kissing Frogs: The Path To A Prince,” is a retired public school principal and high school English teacher, and current President of the local Princeton School Board.
If you would like to read a short passage (about two minutes long) from a book or poem written by an African American author, call 745-5691, or stop by the RWC Multi-Cultural Affairs Office, M127. You may choose a passage from an author of your choice or get one from the committee’s selections.
The purpose of the National African American Read-In is to make the celebration of literacy a traditional part of African American Heritage Month.
The NAARI is sponsored annually in February by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Black Caucus Division, and has been endorsed by the International Reading Association.
RWC also holds the distinction of being a “Community Host,” encouraging churches and schools to take part and tallying the numbers involved for a report to be sent to the NCTE. Last year more than a million people in 49 states, the West Indies, and countries in Africa participated.
RWC and the community are invited to participate by reading and/or listening during the read-in while enjoying a taste of southern style cuisine. There will also be a book signing by Dr. Hawkins, a book table with free bibliographies of works by African American authors, and selected novels, and free bookmarks.