African American Read-In: Regrets—2022

 It is with regret that I announce that a 2022 African American Read-In will not be scheduled.  This would have been Trinity’s twentieth year for this celebration of African American history and culture, part of a national observance established 32 years ago by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, of which I am a member.  There is a history to this event.  In 1926, one week in February, the month of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, was designated Negro History Week, by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Harvard Ph.D. graduate, born the son of a slave.  Negro History Week began as an observation in Negro schools.  National change came about 50 years later.  In 1976, the commemoration was lengthened to the entire month of February and was designated Negro History Month, now referred to as Black History Month.

Thanks to Walden Moore, one tradition will continue this year at Trinity.  We will sing “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the Negro National Anthem, at the close of the services.  In keeping with our tradition, will each of you consider selecting one or more texts by an African American writer for your personal reading during the month of February.  Of course, as with the Read-In, consider poetry, drama, or fiction or non-fiction in their various forms, from slavery to the present day.

Hoping we will get to share at another time.  Many thanks—

Eleanor Q. Tignor,

Coordinator