National Read-In Day will be held today at 6 p.m. in the Crossroads Lounge at the Ferguson Center to commemorate the literary works of black women throughout history.
The event is part of the month-long celebration of Black History Month on campus. The focus this year has been “African-American Economic Development,” and has featured a spectrum of events on campus throughout the month.
Historian Carter Woodson created Black History Month in 1926 to celebrate and recognize the achievements and heritage of the black community.
Many students agree that this is a special time for students to learn about the accomplishments of the black community.
“African-American Heritage Month is important on campus because it makes students more aware on the diversity present here, and gives African-Americans a way to celebrate their history and a sense of community on campus,” said Nicholas Brown, a junior majoring in biology. “It makes you appreciate your own heritage as well, regardless of your ethnicity.”
Landon Mueller, a freshman majoring in biology and chemistry, said it is important to analyze black literature to gain a better understanding of how black society stands in the face of history.
“I believe that this will be beneficial to the UA community because it teaches a life skill, as literacy is important is many different areas of life, and allows students to express themselves in a safe environment,” Mueller said. “I hope to gain a greater insight into the literature of African-American women by attending.”
More specifically, National Read-In Day will focus on the works of black women. One influential black writer, Sheryll Cashin, visited the University earlier this month to discuss one of her books, “The Agitator’s Daughter” and “Post Racism in America,” as part of the series. The night will also feature an open-mic event later in the evening, meaning those in attendance will be allowed to share their poetry with the group.
Marilyn Vaughn, a student involved in the National Council of Negro Women, described tonight’s open-mic night as very cathartic for those who are aspiring writers and poets.
“I am really interested because I’m an aspiring writer, and I feel that anyone interested in the spoken word would benefit from attending this,” said Vaughn, a freshman majoring in telecommunications and film.
This event will combine both the history of black women’s literature with current student opinion, giving relevance to the event and providing an introspective and interactive approach to the theme of black voices in literature.
The event will be sponsored by various campus organizations, including the Women’s Resource Center, the Crossroads Community Center, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, the African-American Graduate Student Association, Pi Beta Phi, Sustained Dialogue, Riptide and the School of Social Work. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.
