African-American Read-In Presents "Tales of Wonder"
January 23, 2012 — “Tales of Wonder,” a celebration of African and African-American folktales featuring local storytellers will be presented from 7-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, at the Diversity Center on the campus of Drury University.
The program is part of Springfield’s annual African-American Read-In celebration. The event is free and open to the public.
Local storytelling favorite Gwen Marshall will join other community members to tell African tribal and African-American folktales. A featured original tale, “Hair Story,” was written by Springfield business owner Christine Peoples. The “Tales of Wonder” choir will perform.
The national African-American Read-In, or AARI, coincides with Black History Month in February and is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (http://www.ncte.org/action/aari).
"In 2012, the Springfield AARI is celebrating the African-American oral tradition of storytelling, said Grace Jackson-Brown, Missouri State University assistant professor of library science and co-chairperson of the AARI event.
“During its finale program on Feb. 6, the AARI committee is proud to present a short video that highlights Springfield youth who participated in a storytelling workshop that was held in November 2011 at the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library," she said.
Local sponsors of the 2012 African-American Read-In are the Missouri State University Libraries, Drury University, Springfield-Greene County Library District, Springfield Public Schools, the Springfield chapter of the NAACP, Storytellers of the Ozarks and Peoples Etiquette.
For more information call (417) 616-0580 or e-mail marthal@thelibrary.org.