With Black History Month upon us, it's possible within the next week and throughout the month of February, you or the children in your life, will hear about the Twenty-First National African-American Read-In. According to the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), "The goal (of the read-in) is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities."
Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, who is currently a professor at the University of Memphis, founded the Read-In in 1989. Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the NCTE, the African-American Read-In encourages schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens to host and coordinate event in their communities where books by African-American authors are shared or read aloud.
For instance, in North Carolina on February 27, "Local authors, community leaders, and students (will) read from works by their favorite African American writers at the Capitol ...
Fiction and non-fiction for children, teens, and adults will be featured in an afternoon of great works. Presented with Wake County’s Richard B. Harrison Library. Noon- 4 p.m. (NC source)
And at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, they will kick off early with a Read-In on January 27.
Here is more information on the event's background:
At its November 1989 meeting, the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) accepted the Issues Committee's recommendation that the Black Caucus sponsor a nation-wide Read-In on the first Sunday of February at 4:00 p.m. EST. At the request of educators, Monday was designated for educational institutions. Jerrie Cobb Scott, an active member of NCTE and the Black Caucus, brought the idea to the Committee. It was envisioned that following a decade of rigorous campaigning for participants, the African American Read-Ins would become a traditional part of Black History Month celebrations.
Read-In packets containing materials for use are distributed widely, a distribution list that grows as report cards are submitted each year. Each recipient of a packet is asked to create a structure for hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in ways that best suit their resources and interests. It is of grave importance that hosts and coordinators return the Read-In Report Cards by the end of February. The Report Cards provide a mechanism for determining our growth rates in terms of participants, types of participating groups, and frequently read books.
All efforts are valued as contributions to a significant history making event. (from The African-American Reading Institute's site)
For more information on how to participate or plan an event, visit the NCTE's website. According to that source, "Over a million readers of all ethnic groups from 49 states, the West Indies, and African countries have participated."
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