Event honors contributions of African-American authors

Lincoln Public Schools hosted the annual African-American Read-In event on Wednesday, featuring LPS staff, students and community members reading and performing excerpts from African-American literature and sharing stories about the authors and their work.

The hour-long event, held in conjunction with Lincoln City Libraries, explored African-American history and the contributions of African-Americans in the world of literature and the arts. It’s part of a nationwide literacy initiative during Black History Month, with similar events happening across the country.

Reading, speaking and performing at Wednesday’s event were:

  • Bill Bryant, student advocate for the African-American community, LPS
  • Pete Ferguson, youth development coordinator, LPS
  • Marshawna Kapke, student at Lincoln North Star High School
  • Shanna Letcher, student advocate for the African-American community, LPS
  • Chris Haeffner, director of library media services, LPS
  • Jeremy Williams, fourth-grade teacher at Zeman Elementary School
  • Alethea Stovall, dean of students, Bryan College of Health Sciences
  • Vann Price, human resources supervisor of secondary personnel services, LPS
  • Marro Lamar, recording artist
  • Belmont Elementary School TRACKS scholars
  • Kamri Sylve, news reporter, Channel 10/11 television
  • Sändra Washington, Lincoln City Council member-at-large
  • Pat Leach, director, Lincoln City Libraries

Lincoln City Libraries will host a second African-American Read-In on Feb. 20, noon to 1 p.m., at the Loren Eiseley Branch Library, 1530 Superior St.


Published: February 6, 2020, Updated: February 20, 2020

North Star High School student Marshawna Kapke