Sealey Elementary hosts 26th National African American Read-In
From left to right : Commissioner Bill Proctor, Walt McNeil, Representative Alan Williams, assistant principal Terri Martin, Col. (Ret.) Ronald M. Joe, Sherwood Brown, Selvin Cobb and Judge Errol Powell, pose with certificates after reading to students.
Special to the Outlook
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Those are the words of abolitionist, writer and statesman Frederick Douglass, and the 100 Black Men of Tallahassee (BMOT) want to make sure that children in Tallahassee read and are read to. Again this year, they participated in the 26th annual African American Read- In, sharing stories written by and about African Americans to students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Sealey Elementary. The read-in is endorsed by the International Reading Council and sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Judge Errol Powell, Selvin Cobb, Walt McNeil, Commissioner Bill Proctor, Representative Alan Williams, Sherwood Brown, and Col. (Ret.) Ronald Joe, all members of the 100 BMOT shared stories written by African American authors such as Eloise Greenfield, Irene Smalls, Donald Crews, Patricia McKissack, Angela Johnson, Nikki Grimes, Julius Lester, Leo Dillon and Jacqueline Woodson.
The readers each told a little about themselves and their professions and how important being able to read has been and continues to be.
The celebration of reading and African American authors is very important in light of the fact that in the 18th century, there were no schools in the Southern states of America that admitted a Black child to its free public schools. There was fear that Black literacy would be a threat to the slave system. In the Deep South, laws were passed called “Slave Codes” to forbid slaves from learning to read or write and making it a crime for others to teach them. Joe, president of the local chapter of 100 Black Men stated,” It is always rewarding to see the children’s eyes light up as you read to them, and we are proud that they are free to read.”
Principal Demetria Clemons says she is always delighted for her students to see community members come in to the schools and mentor to her students in any way possible, and reading is about the best way possible. Assistant Principal Terri Martin presented each reader with a certificate of appreciation.
