For immediate release — Jan. 22, 2009


(DALLAS) — Say it loud: “I read and I’m proud!”

Over the past nine years, Dallas-area residents have received thousands of free books, listened to readings by some of the nation’s most prominent African-American writers and shared the joy of reading, music and culture with family, friends and neighbors. Now it’s time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dallas County Community College District’s citywide African American Read-In with music, song, prose, poetry and the sound of turning pages!

DCCCD’s 10th annual African American Read-In — which celebrates literacy among people of all ages and shares the writings of African-American authors — will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. Community members are invited to attend the free event ... families in particular, and children ages 8 and older ... and bring a smile! Seating is limited and the theater usually fills early because parents, youngsters and friends traditionally flock to the event.

This year’s featured guests are author and motivational speaker Lisa Nichols, who appeared during the sixth read-in, and Dallas resident and actress Irma P. Hall, who appeared during the second read-in. Both headliners will participate in readings during the program’s original production, “Say It Loud: I Read and I’m Proud!” (this year’s theme as well), written by Anyika McMillan-Herod and directed by Monique Ridge-Williams, which reflects on the event’s history.

“We are so excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year and to remember how many people’s lives have been touched by the African American read-in,” said Carla Ranger, district director of DCCCD’s office of educational partnerships and founder of the Dallas-area African American Read-In. “During Black History Month in February, we want to challenge our community members to read a work written by an African-American writer for 20 minutes a day. I guarantee that each person who takes on this challenge will become a better reader!”

Celebrating 10 years of reading and learning, the DCCCD African American Read-In in Dallas is the largest event of its kind in the United States and serves as a national model that others have followed. The Dallas African American Read-In has provided free books to readers who attend the event and also has promoted community-based read-ins that have reached thousands of additional readers. In 2005, for example, more than 35,000 Dallas-linked readers (students, organizations, families, book clubs and others) staged additional read-ins; the Dallas citywide goal is 10,000 participants each year.

Touching others’ lives and promoting literacy has had a profound effect on many participants like Ernest Johnson. Johnson attended the 2006 read-in with his wife, Latrice, and their two children after waiting in line unsuccessfully the two previous years for a seat at the annual event. The production that year featured readings for men and fathers. Johnson left the theater inspired. He also heard Ranger’s challenge to read for 20 minutes each day and to become a better reader.

He remembers, “At first, it was hard to schedule 20 minutes to read, but if she was right, my desire to become a better reader would come true. So I kept at it. The more I read, the better I got.” And Johnson told his story to others during the 2007 read-in. He proclaimed, “Yes! Now I can read, and I’m proud!”

As always, audience members will receive free T-shirts, canvas bags, books and other literacy incentives. “The real treasure they will take with them will be the words — both spoken and written — shared by authors, readers, artists and actors, plus friendships that grow each year as a result of the read-in,” said Ranger. “And we also will celebrate our read-in hero, George Dawson, who started us on this fantastic journey 10 years ago.”

For its 10th anniversary read-in, DCCCD again is partnering with a number of new and returning sponsors who represent Dallas-based and national organizations, plus businesses, community groups and news outlets, to stage the event. They include: K104-FM, KRNB-FM, KKDA-AM, The (Dallas) Weekly, Dallas Morning News, Downtown Business News, NTheKnow.com, McDonald’s, Comerica Bank, Dr Pepper Snapple, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Dallas Children’s Theater, Harlem Book Fair, Holt McDougal, Scholastic, Highlights for Children, Dallas Public Library, Jokae’s African American Books, Millennium Motor Cars and the National Council of Teachers of English Black Caucus.

Other performers will include: Lyndale the Literary Lion, Cynthia Dorn Navarrette, Richmond Punch, Christopher Silverberg, David Carr, Je’Mone Smith, David Ratcliff, Audrey McClure, Key’Aiera Lockett (Dallas Black Dance Theater’s “Bloom” Company), Ayubu Kamau African Dance and Drum Troupe, Jessica Williams, Oliver Wendall Holmes School “Boss Band” and students from George Dawson Middle School (in Southlake, Texas).

The idea for an African American Read-In originated with Dr. Jerrie Scott, faculty member at the University of Memphis and a member of the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English. The event’s purpose is to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. Since 2000, the caucus has documented a cumulative total of more than 1 million people who have participated in read-ins held across the country.

Visit http://www.readin.dcccd.edu for details.

African American Read-in Poster (PDF - 772KB)
Fast Facts
Testimonials
                                                               
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Press contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819; ahatch@dcccd.edu  
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