The Bench by the Road - Nov. 2019

THE TONI MORRISON SOCIETY

The Bench by the Road

Dedication Ceremony Lincoln University November 14, 2019 • 12:30 PM International Cultural Center

Program ________________ Welcome Dr. Lenetta R. Lee, ’85 Dean of the College and Vice President for Student Success Invocation Rev. Dr. James Smith Second Baptist Church, Coatesville, PA Musical Selection City Called Heaven Arr. Josephine Poelinitz Lincoln University Concert Choir Ameenah Muhammad, Soloist Dr. Camilla J. Horne, Director Toni Caldwell Hall, Accompanist Greetings Ms. Sue Walker District Director for U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District Hon. Andrew Dinniman Pennsylvania’s 19th Senatorial District Ms. Theresa R. Braswell ’84 Chair, Lincoln University Board of Trustees President’s Remarks Dr. Brenda A. Allen ’81 President, Lincoln University The Lincoln University Bench unveiling Toni Morrison Society, Chairlady Braswell, President Allen, and Dr. Lee

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Program (continued) ________________ History of The Toni Morrison Society Dr. Nafeesa Muhammad Assistant Professor, Department of History, Political Science & Philosophy History of Bench by the Road Project Dr. Carolyn Denard Dr. Craig Stutman Toni Morrison Society Prayer Rev. Bernard J. Kefer Oxford United Methodist Church, Oxford, PA Musical Selection The Road Home Arr. Stephen Paulus Lincoln University Concert Choir Soloists: Kirsten Sloan, Nasira Wilson, and Rianna Christian Daejah Merrill, Interpretive Dancer Closing Toni Morrison Society Members and Audience Benediction Rev. Monica Guepet West Grove United Methodist Church, West Grove, PA

“There is now a new place here you or I can go to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of those who were enslaved; there is now something new here that reminds us of the ones who made the journey and of those who did not make it. There is now another suitable memorial...

There is now a bench by the road. – adapted from Toni Morrison, World Magazinee

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Officers of the Society Dana Williams Howard University President

Furaha Norton University of Cincinnati Vice President

Gerri Bates Bowie State University Secretary

Theresa Palmer Palmer and Associates Treasurer

Sharon Jessee University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (Ret.) Membership Chair

Lynne Simpson Oklahoma State University-Stillwater Bibliography Chair

Howard Rambsy Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Archivist

Craig Stutman Delaware Valley University Bench by the Road Chair

Yvonne Brown Phoenix/Medina Writers Project Social Media Chair

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Bench By the Road Project Committee Craig Stutman Delaware Valley University Chair

Alma Jean Billingslea Spelman College

Deborah Childs Bowen Creative Mind Enterprise

Carolyn Denard Georgia College and State University

La Vinia Jennings University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Sharon Jessee University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (Ret.)

Joshua Leach Read Alliance

Verna Robinson Anne Arundel Community College

Lynne Simpson Langston University

Tracy Ann Williams The New School

Kris Yohe Northern Kentucky University

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“There is no place you or I can go to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of slaves; nothing that reminds us of the ones who made the journey and of those who did not make it.

There is not suitable memorial or plaque or wreath or wall or park, or skyscraper lobby.

There is not three-hundred foot tower.

There’s no small bench by the road.”

–Toni Morrison, World Magazine, 1989

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Mission Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world.

It does so by: • Providing a rigorous liberal arts education featuring active and collaborative learning; • Integrating academic and co-curricular programs with the University’s distinctive legacy of global engagement, social responsibility, and leadership development; and • Cultivating the character, values, and standards of excellence needed to enable students to become responsible citizens of a global community.

Vision Lincoln University will be a national model for both 21st century liberal arts undergraduate education and innovative graduate and professional programs.

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Phone:

484-365-8000

lincoln.edu