BPL Announces Readers for Saturday’s Read-In for Justice Black History Month Program
The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) has announced its readers for “Read-In for Justice: A Poetic Look at the Black Family, a 2021 Black History Month program. Tune in virtually on Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. on the BPL Facebook page.
This Read-In for Justice program will embark upon a poetic journey that will highlight and celebrate the beauty and richness of the African-American family and its heritage. Readers representing multiple generations will lend their voices to works written by African American poets, past and present, as well as themselves.
Gelenda Norman, a library assistant for the Central Library Youth Department, said the readers will be as follows:
• Birmingham Municipal Court Judge Andra Sparks, who is Senior Pastor 45th Street Baptist Church
• Anthony D. Sparks, a Birmingham-based author, professional speaker and development coach
• Lonnie Jones of the Homewood Public Library • Aaliyah Taylor of the Homewood Public Library
• Kerry Brackett, Faculty Member at Miles College and co-owner of Majesty Lounge
• Ashley Jones, faculty member at Alabama School of Fine Arts and founder of Magic City Poetry Festival
• Ronda Robinson-McKenzie, owner of Carmine Communications and former reporter at Fox 6 News
• Katelyn Miller, 10th Grader at Calera High School
• Saidah Royal, 12th Grader at Parker High School
The February 20 Read-In for Justice program is funded by a grant BPL received in the fall 2020 from “Lift Every Voice: The Nationwide Celebration of 250 Years of African American Poetry”. The award allowed BPL to host two virtual programs, Read-In for Justice (this Saturday) and a Bards & Brews virtual Black History poetry program held February 5.
Lift Every Voice (https://www.africanamericanpoetry.org) is a national public humanities initiative that engages participants in a multifaceted exploration of African American poetry, the perspectives it offers on American history and the struggle for racial justice, and the universality of its imaginative response to the personal experiences of Black Americans over three centuries.
About Read-In for Justice
BPL created Read-In for Justice in June 2020 in response to the racial injustice firestorm caused by the death of George Floyd. Held four times between June 27 and September 12, 2020, Read-In for Justice allows Birmingham area storytellers to voice their frustration by reading books written by people of color.
This monthly event has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook, attracting individuals of all races eager to speak out against racism. Read-In for Justice also gained national exposure when the Urban Libraries Council ran a blog written by Gelenda Norman in August 2020.
Hosted via Facebook Live by BPL Outreach Librarian Candice Hardy, Read-In for Justice has expanded beyond authors reading books on race and social justice.
The August program, Let the Children Speak, featured three poetry camp teens sharing original poems inspired by the Birmingham civil rights documentary, “Mighty Times: The Children’s March.” In September, BPL hosted Read In for Justice: Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring books written by Latino authors, including some read in Spanish.
To get an idea of what to expect at Read-In for Justice, click on the links below to four programs that aired last year on the BPL Facebook page:
Read-In for Justice June 27, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary/videos/582911772598387
Read-In for Justice: July 11, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary/videos/1388603744684229
Read-In for Justice: Let the Children Speak August 8, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary/videos/733853867188299
Read-In for Justice: Hispanic Heritage Month, September 12, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamPublicLibrary/videos/680948059185616
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