Millikin read-in celebrates Black History Month
By VALERIE WELLS H&R Staff Writer
 
DECATUR -- Delshamira Jones read an excerpt from the speeches of Malcolm X in which he explained why African-Americans are drawn to Islam. Many blacks see Christianity as the religion of whites that was forced upon the slaves, he said.

Behind her, a painting by Arthur L. Dawson, "Like Sardines," depicted a sardine can full of black men lying side by side on a background made of the Confederate flag.

On Monday, Millikin students participated in the 15th annual National African American Read-In Chain, a nationwide event to celebrate Black History Month and the literary contributions of black authors. Students signed up to spend 15-minute increments reading from their own work or the work of black writers.

"I don't know too many African-American authors, and I felt this was a good chance to get their names out and this was a good chance to learn about reading their books," Jones said. "The (Malcolm X) speech was really compelling, and it had a lot of my thoughts in it."

"I wanted to have a very strong start to Black History Month," said Bryant Smith, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Millikin, "by exposing people to aspects of black life that they're not normally used to associating with blackness, such as literature. Most people don't think of the literary contributions of blacks."

Kris Boomer of Decatur is active in the Multicultural Affairs activities among many others, and she read from "Mules and Men," a book of traditional tales by Zora Neale Hurston.

"I just thought it would be an interesting way to celebrate Black History Month," Boomer said. "It's not just a month that African-Americans celebrate. I think it should be celebrated by all ethnicities."

The event, began in 1989, is sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English, said Anne Matthews, who teaches English composition and British literature at Millikin.

"We want to promote literacy and celebrate African-American literature," she said. "Over the 15 years, it's grown and it's not only national, but there are people in other countries participating as well. So we're just a drop in the bucket."

Herald & Review newspaper, Decatur, Illinois
February 3, 2004