Black History Month provides a thought-provoking opportunity to recognize and amplify Black voices, literature, and contributions to culture.
The African American Read-In (AARI) is a celebration of African American literature and literacy.
The African American Read-In (AARI), established by NEHS partner the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), is a nationwide initiative that encourages individuals and groups to read works by African American authors during Black History Month.
During the month of February, schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting an African American Read-In.
Read-Ins can happen just about anywhere, from homes, to libraries, to schools, to community centers and beyond.
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Each year NCTE asks event-holders to fill out a “report card” giving us details on where the event took place, how many people participated, and what books were read.
Since its conception in 1990, the African American Read-In has had more than six million global participants.
Nationwide participation in African American read-in events has grown in the past few years, according to the National Council of Teachers of English.
They told NPR that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of virtual events has helped the initiative reach even more classrooms and communities.
NCTE said the read-ins reach hundreds of thousands of students, educators, and community members annually.
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If you want an opportunity to learn more about African-American culture, the African-American read-in is a chance to do that. It's a gathering to read and discuss books centered on Black authors and stories together.
"Participating in the African American Read-In gives me joy," said Tonya Perry, President of the National Council of Teachers of English. "Being able to share in the culture with other people who are like me, and people who are not, who come from different backgrounds."
The Origins of AARI
The African American Read-In was founded by Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, a member of the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English.
At its November 1989 meeting, the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English accepted the Issues Committee’s recommendation that the Black Caucus sponsor a nationwide read-in on the first Sunday of February.
At the request of educators, Monday was designated for educational institutions.
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Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, an active member of NCTE and the Black Caucus, brought the idea to the committee.
It was envisioned that following a decade of rigorous campaigning for participants, the African American Read-Ins would become a traditional part of Black History Month celebrations.
The Caucus proposed the event in late 1989, and the first Read-In took place during Black History Month in 1990.
In 1990, the National Council of Teachers of English joined in the sponsorship of the African American Read-In Chain.
African American Read In
Gloria Tibbs, a UMKC librarian until her retirement in 2021 and beloved mentor to many, founded the UMKC Libraries African American Read-In in 2010.
“Every February, NCTE commemorates books written by Black authors that elevate Black experiences. We call this event, this annual commemoration of Black letters, the African American Read-In. It was Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott’s baby. She gave birth to it. Carried it. Raised it. Nurtured it. Sustained its life. by Stephanie Power-Carter, Indiana University and David E.
How to Participate
Participate by reading excerpts from poetry, speeches, stories, songs, and other works created by African American authors and artists.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Joining us on Zoom will not require a Zoom account.
If you would like to read, perform, or share from poetry, speeches, stories, or other works of literature created by African American authors and artists, select Presenter on the registration form.
Looking for ideas on what you can share? Search for materials owned by the UMKC Libraries on African American history and experiences, or fiction, nonfiction, poetry, music, or other works by African American creators.
Organize a reading event: Host a gathering where students, faculty, and community members read aloud from books, poems, or speeches by African American writers past and present.
The Read in Color program, created by NEHS partner organization Little Free Library, distributes books that reflect diverse perspectives, including stories by and about Black authors and characters.
Stock Little Free Libraries: Gather books by Black authors to place in Little Free Libraries within your community.
Create your own Little Free Library: Establish an NEHS Little Free Library in a high-traffic area and dedicate it to diverse voices, ensuring that books by Black authors are prominently featured.
By participating in the African American Read-In and Read in Color program, NEHS student members and chapters can make a meaningful contribution to Black History Month while inspiring a love for diverse literature.
Use this #AARI25 printable poster for your in-person promotional materials. This can be printed in a 16 x 20 inch standard poster size.
The Importance of Black Literature
As a college professor, award-winning children's book author Carole Boston Weatherford has her students participate in a service project where they go into the community or read books virtually as part of the African American read-in.
She also sees the impact read-ins have on children.
"Children gravitate towards books where characters look like them and are touched by books where the characters look like them," said Weatherford.
PEN America is a writer advocacy group that tracks book bans across the United States.
They say of the most commonly banned books in the 2023-2024 school year, 44% featured people and characters of color and 39% featured LGBTQ+ people and characters.
Weatherford said that at a time when efforts proliferate to ban Black books and bar Black history, grassroots initiatives like the African American read-in are needed now more than ever.
"Knowing your history is valuable, it's powerful. You can't take it to the bank, but you can't lose it in the stock market either. Once you know it, no one can ever take it away from you," said Weatherford.
Weatherford said she has written multiple books on Black history that have been banned or challenged throughout her career.
One was "Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane," a children's book showing the childhood of the jazz legend.
Another was her book "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre," which won the Coretta Scott King Book Award.
Author Jacqueline Woodson told NPR her books have also been challenged and banned, including her book Brown Girl Dreaming, which won a National Book Award.
"I think the attempted erasure of Black history and so many histories in this country is of course intentional," said Woodson. "Because if we don't know where we come from, we won't know where we're going. And we won't know how to not repeat the mistakes of the past."
"Even though I think there are pressures out there to erase or maybe lessen the importance of African-American regions or specialties, I think that it's important that we keep it the forefront, that it is our differences that make us so strong and that we must celebrate each other and what we all bring," said Tonya Perry, President of the National Council of Teachers of English.
"We share together in the reading of the literature, the talking and discussion about the literature, and everyone brought to the table their own experience, and their own ability to understand and ask questions."
"I know that no one can steal our stories. Trying to take our stories is not going to be the way to silence us, because it's just impossible. If we're not writing the stories down, we're going to be telling the stories. If we're not telling the stories, we're going to be singing the stories. We're going to be dancing the stories," said Woodson.
People recently noticed that Google amended its calendar to remove Black History Month in the middle of last year, along with celebrations like Pride Month and Indigenous People Month.
Multiple federal agencies have stopped observing the celebration of Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth following Trump's executive orders targeting DEI.
The Department of Defense issued a memo titled "Identity Months Dead at DoD".
There is a growing push to not celebrate or recognize the holidays set aside to celebrate the diversity and contributions of Black Americans.
