Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Erasmus James, right.
Lineman shares love of reading
Book drive donations go to African American Read-In
December 2, 2005
Heads turned Tuesday, November 29, at a Cub Foods store in north Minneapolis. Normally focused cashiers paused to smile and point and customers left half-bagged groceries at checkout lanes to join fans gathered in the lobby to get the autograph of Minnesota Vikings 2005 first-round draft pick and starting defensive lineman Erasmus James. But this was no ordinary sports autograph session; it was a book drive. James teamed up to share his love of reading with the African American Read-In (sponsored at the University of Minnesota by General College), Cub Foods Broadway, the local nonprofit organization Increasing the Peace Feeding the Least, and the Jordan Area Community Council. Books donated at the drive will be distributed to participants at this year's 17th Annual African American Read-In on February 5-6, 2006 (see sidebar) and to the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent.
The African American
Read-In
The Read-In is a General College literacy initiative to increase
reading and writing skills in African American students and
encourage reading and writing across the curriculum. To celebrate
Black History Month in February, schools, churches, libraries,
bookstores, community and professional organizations, and
interested citizens host Read-In events in their communities the
first weekend of that month. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as
bringing together family and friends to share a book, or as
elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that
feature professional African American writers. Host packets and
more information are available at the African American Read-In
Web page. For
more information, contact Read-In coordinator Ezra Hyland at
hylan003@umn.edu or 612-626-4780.