Look ahead to the 2003 African-American Read-In!
December 13, 2002

While February celebrations for Black History Month seem far away, planners for the 2003 citywide African American Read-In are preparing to welcome Dallas-area residents to a program at the Majestic Theatre that will delight readers and literary lovers of all ages. Sponsored by the Dallas County Community College District and Verizon, this fourth-annual event will be held on Sun., Feb. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. The program is free and open to the general public; seating is limited to the first 1,700 persons.

A special production titled The Rhythm of Language will be performed; the original work was written by Anyika McMillan-Herod and will be directed by Monique Ridge Williams. Works by Langston Hughes, Margaret Walker, Virginia Hamilton, Edwidge Danticat, Kevin Powell and other African-American authors will be featured. Audiences also will enjoy performances by Nova Dance Company, the Dallas Black Dance Company, OIL, Percussion Things, and national actors Cress Williams (Living Single) and Simbi Khali-Williams (Third Rock from the Sun), plus readings by local writers.

Read-In coordinators will continue to inform others about its special online project, the George Dawson Literacy Awareness Campaign, which honors the legacy of the former Dallas centenarian who learned to read at age 98 and who co-authored Life Is So Good with Richard Glaubman. The goals of the project are to increase literacy; provide opportunities for higher education; and inspire community philanthropy.

DCCCD and Verizon have co-sponsored each of the four Dallas African American Read-Ins to date. Additional event sponsors for 2003 include K104FM/KRNB-FM/KKDA-AM; the Dallas Weekly Free Press; the Dallas Morning News; WFAA-TV (channel 8); Scholastic; Holt Rinehart Winston; the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs; Black Images Book Bazaar; and Jokae's African American Books. Partners include Dallas READS and the Dallas Public Library.

For more information or program updates, contact: Carla Ranger at 214-860-2005; Allison Neal, event manager, at 214-616-2965; or Ann Hatch, DCCCD office of marketing and communications, at 214-860-2478.

For more information, call 214-860-2005 or visit www.readin.dcccd.edu.