This year marked the fifth anniversary of the Judson College African American Read-In. Judson College’s Departments of English and Music hosted this event on Thursday, February 11 in the Ramsey-McCrummen Chapel. As a sponsor institution, Judson College embraces the National Council of Teachers of English’s (NCTE) call to “make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.”
Judson students, faculty, staff, and administrators participated in this event by sharing the voices of African American writers, artists, visionaries, and trailblazers. Participants read texts from scholars including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Sojourner Truth, Rita Dove, Alice Walker, and Paul Laurence Dunbar, among others. The Judson Hand Bells Ensemble, Judson Singers, and FAITH Ensemble shared musical performances of spirituals and anthems during the program to highlight the achievements of African American composers and lyricists.