Children, teens, adults, families, groups and organizations are invited to join the Flint Public Library (FPL) in its celebration of African American History Month by reading works by African American authors.
FPL is hosting its third African American Read-In from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 12.
The celebration begins with African American tales for families and children from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be crafts, story time and the tell-a-tail therapy dog will there.
From 12:30 to 2 p.m. everyone is invited to hear stories by and about African American authors.
Guest presenter Rodney Creech, resident artist and instructor at the Flint Youth Theater will be performing works by James Baldwin at 12:30 p.m.
The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy girls youth group, sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will follow sharing poetry, literature and dance.
“This can also be a time of discovery,” Wanda Harden, public relations coordinator for the Library, said in a press release.
“The Flint Public Library’s Gloria Coles Black Life collection has over 1,000 titles and authors to explore. In addition, our children’s collection is full of books by and about African Americans. The Library is a host site for the Mott-Warsh Collection of fine art created by artists of the African diaspora and we currently have an exhibit through February 25 to meet The Divine Nine: Historically African American Fraternities and Sororities. Our February calendar is full of free events celebrating African American history.”
The African American Read-In is a national event which began in 1990, and was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English.
In 1991, the National Council of Teachers of English joined in the sponsorship. The Read-In has been endorsed by the International Reading Association.
Over a million readers of all ethnic groups, from 48 states, the District of Columbia, 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.
Admission is free to all of these events at FPL.
The Library is located at 1026 E. Kearsley St., Flint.
For more information, call (810) 232-7111 or visit www.fpl.info.
