Sign Up Today for This Year’s African American Read-In

During the month of February, students are invited to join English Department faculty Cree Taylor and Adena Rivera-Dundas in the African American Read-In, an initiative promoted by the National Council of Teachers of English. On each Thursday of the month, readers will get together, with free food, to discuss this year’s text: James by Percival Everett. Sign-ups are open until January 30, and the first fifteen students to sign up will receive a free copy of the book.

The national read-in aims to recognize, amplify, and celebrate African American literature while bringing together a community of readers from any and all backgrounds. In 2024 and 2025, Adena and Cree co-coordinated the read-in with the texts Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward and Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin. These experiences have brought students together to discuss race, identity, belonging, and historical and current political climates. 

Now in its third consecutive year here, the read-in offers a space of community, understanding, and learning as readers will come together each week of Black History Month to engage in open dialogue around a shared reading schedule.

For more information and to sign up for the read-in, fill out the interest form.