The Livingstone College Honors Program partnered with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), joining thousands of organizations around the nation in efforts to make literacy a permanent staple in Black History Month.

The honors program welcomed over 300 participants to its annual event hosted in Little Tubman Theatre on Feb. 11. From musical expressions to an array of poetry and prose, readers and audience members gathered dressed in traditional African attire and Black history themed wardrobes to celebrate, read, and listen to works by African American writers.

Freshman Midelange Charlot of Haiti said, “This was an amazing experience. I’m happy I was able to learn about the writer Zora Neale Hurston and share her work, but I really loved listening to the works of so many others. Who knew it was so much out there?”

The 11 a.m. hour welcomed second graders from Movement Elementary School in Charlotte. Felecia Lee, a 2011 Livingstone graduate, chaperoned the youth for an HBCU tour in celebration of Black History month whereas they were welcomed with an oration of Countee Cullen’s poem ‘Hey Black Child’ recited by Honors Director Da’Tarvia Parrish, who encouraged the elementary students to share their professional aspirations, while current Livingstone students joined hands with designated youth of similar goals.

“This experience was impactful for me and my students. I am very blessed to have the privilege of visiting my alma mater that has always welcomed me with open arms and has always invested in the future of those who are like me,” Lee said.

As the students continued to share their selections, music majors Kieth Israel and Mia Mason sang Negro spirituals, and Rev. Dr. Johnnie Henderson of religious studies rendered excerpts from James Weldon Johnson “God’s Trombone,” all assembled were inspired to celebrate and were able to select a book choice due to the generosity of the Hiram Revels East Foundation.