By Sarah Campbellscampbell@salisburypost.com
SPENCER — Students at North Rowan Middle School channeled African-American writers ranging from Langston Hughes to Maya Angelou to Tupac Shakur on Wednesday during an African-American Read-In held in the school’s media center.
Language arts teachers Angie Fleming and Robin Hendrick hosted the second annual event, inviting students to read their favorite poems and passages from African-American literature.
“I checked out a bunch of books from the public library and we reviewed some of the authors we had already read,” Fleming said. “I encouraged the students to choose a poem that meant something to them.”
Eighth-grader Megan Braun read Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” and “Woman Work.”
She said “Phenomenal Woman” reminds her that one’s values mean more than the opinions of others.
Samantha Souble said reading “Doubtless” by Nikki Grimes motivated her.
“With all the high school and college dropouts people must have lost their dreams along the way,” she said. “This poem reminds them they should still hold on to their dreams no matter what they are going through.”
Angela Elliot said “A Song of Hope” by Thomas Hardy filled her with emotion.
“When I was reading it I felt a lot of different things,” she said.
Fleming and Hendrick enlisted the help of a few other classes to complete the event.
The chorus sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and art classes crafted colorful decorations to adorn the media center’s walls.
About 225 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades participated in the event.
Eighth-grader Mark Moore, who read “Dream Variation” by Langston Hughes, said he would like to see the read-in continue for years to come.
“I thought it was a very good way for students to express their inner thoughts and emotions,” he said.
Eighth-grader Courtney Wright, who read “Just for a Time” by Maya Angelou, echoed Moore’s sentiments.
“I think the African-American Read-In is a good event to express yourself and learn about different cultures,” she said. “And, the more diversified you are the smarter you are.”
Elliot said the read-in was uplifting.
“It was very inspiring because when you read a poem you can put your own life into it.”
The event was hosted in conjuction with the 22nd annual African-American Read-In, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
The goal of the read-in is to make the celebration of African-American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
