EVENTS AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN

BY EVELYN KACPRZYNSKI

The ‘African American Read-In’ is a national event dedicated to hearing and amplifying Black voices during Black History Month. Dr. Bissonette, English and Humanities director at Allendale Columbia School, started the tradition in 2021. The event took place in the Ursula Burns Dining Commons on the 14th of February, “explor[ing], shar[ing], and celebrat[ing] [works] by African American writers.” “It really feels like the event has grown into something our whole community of the BSU, both read their own pieces at the event. “My journal entry was about the Buffalo shooting – a traumatic event to me. My cousin lives in Buffalo and she was at Tops just before the shooting. The next morning I had a tough talk with my nieces about racial inequity in America – they were four and six – and that was really hard for me,” explains Harmony. “I wanted to share what it’s like to endure these kinds of events as a Black person in America. The shooting in particular felt so real and so close, so I wanted to express how real it felt to me.” Harmony shares that she cried while giving the speech because it felt so emotional to her.

“I read ‘Gray’ which was an original piece that I wrote last year. The piece surrounded my feelings on the BLM protests, police brutality and the feeling of a lack of control in a society that wasn’t built to include me. This piece felt like a wake up call for myself to keep fighting for my rights but also hopefully for others who don’t understand what it means to be Black in America” Nya shares.