Back to Media Home Page
UW-Marshfield/Wood County
invites public to participate in African American Read-In
MARSHFIELD - UW-Marshfield/Wood County
is joining more than a million readers by participating in
the 17th National African American Read-In Chain
on Monday, Feb. 6.
Dr. John Pruitt, assistant professor of
English, is spearheading the campaign. Members of the
community are invited to UW-Marshfield/Wood County to read
aloud short stories and/or poems by African-American
authors. Reading shifts will be 15 or 30 minutes between
the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6.
“African-American authors have made a
tremendous contribution to literature,” Pruitt said. “The
African American Read-In Chain is an opportunity for the
community to demonstrate the significance of that
contribution by exposing audiences to these literary works.”
The public is invited to listen to the
readings, which will take place in the UW-Marshfield/Wood
County Commons. Those interested in reading can contact
Pruitt at (715) 389-6547 or e-mail jpruitt@uwc.edu. Readers
may select their own stories or poems, or they will be
provided for them, Pruitt said.
“The only criterion is that the short
stories or poetry be written by African-American authors,”
he said. “This is a tribute designed to build awareness of
the contribution these authors have made to literature.”
The Read-In is sponsored by
the
Sponsored by the Black Caucus of National Council of
Teachers of English and by the National Council of Teachers
of English. It has
been endorsed by the International Reading
Association. Over a million readers of all ethnic groups
from 49 states, the West Indies, and African countries have
participated. The goal is to make the celebration of
African-American literacy a traditional part of Black
History Month activities.
