Strength. Freedom. Courage. Perseverance.
Those are just some of the key messages conveyed during OCC’s African American Read-In on Feb. 6.
OCC faculty, students and special guest Dr. Bernice A. King – youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – read excerpts of inspiring books and poems by African American authors during the event.
Returning to its in-person format, the Read-In was held at the Dr. King Library on the Orchard Ridge campus. The event was expanded to include virtual access and enriched with prerecorded readings.
King, who recently spoke at OCC’s MLK Convocation, provided an exclusive reading from “It Starts with Me! Pledge to Be Love!” a book she co-authored with Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson. The book is available at all OCC campus libraries in both English and Spanish.
“Dr. King’s book provides a message of love,” said Nadja Springer-Ali, OCC Faculty librarian and organizer of the Read-In. “By having love in your heart, it gives you the courage to speak up against things that are wrong and try to find solutions to solve problems.”
Celebrating Black History
The African American Read-In exposes listeners to a wide range of books and brings awareness to the depth and contributions made by African Americans to the literacy world.
OCC Counselor Rasheedah Wright chose to read an excerpt from “A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships Drama Free” by Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed therapist from Detroit.
“People of color need to be ok with getting help and this book highlights the message to vocalize it and there are tools to help,” she said.
OCC student Maurice Jones read from a book he authored called “What Can I Be I Can Be Anything.”
“I wrote this book to inspire young children,” he said. “I hope I encouraged the listeners to reach their goals, fulfill their dreams and keep believing.”
The African American Read-In was established by the Black Caucus National Council of Teachers of English in 1990. This is OCC’s 14th year participating in the annual event sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
Gratitude for OCC readers and their selected readings
- Nadja Springer-Ali: “Chasing Utopias: A Hybrid” by Nikki Giovanni
- Dr. Kim Hurns, Vice Chancellor of Student Services: The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin
- Elizabeth Green, Records Manager and Archivist: “And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African American Women” by Tonya Bolden
- Melvin Chapman, Faculty Psychology: “The Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poiter
- Loretta Hunter, Faculty Librarian: “They Tell Me of A Home” by Daniel Black
- Rebecca Wieland, Faculty English, Oakland Early College: “What the Road Said” by Cleo Wade
- Bethany Kennedy, Dean of Academic Support Services: “How Long ‘til Black Futures Month” by N.K. Jemison
- Kalen Rogers, OCC Student: “Fences” by August Wilson
- Sarah Rawls, Austin Jones, Bryson Bates, Erynn Frank, Oakland Early College Students: “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
- Maggie Borowski, Learning Resources Technician: “Freedom Over Me” by Ashley Bryan
- Maurice Jones, OCC Student: “What Can I Be I Can Be Anything” by Maurice Jones
- Sandra Harrold Foster, Buyer: “And Still, I Rise” by Maya Angelou
- Noor Abdallah, Lubaina Khan, Sarah Eltobji, Oakland Early College Students: “The Proudest Blue” by Ibithaj Muhammad
Watch the African American Read-In