WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 8, 2023 — West Liberty University will observe Black History Month 2023 with events beginning with the African-American Read-In from 3 – 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, to be held in the Student Learning Center, College Union. The national observance of Black History Month began in 1976 and this year’s theme is Black Resistance.

Established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, the read-in aims to make literacy a part of Black History Month and has reached more than 6 million participants around the world (ncte.org).

African-American writings, both fiction and nonfiction, will be read by participants. Each reading will last no more than 10 minutes and a light reception follows.

All students and employees are invited to take part in the activity and share their voice in the Read-In. 

This is the fourth year that WLU has celebrated Black History Month and taken part in the Read-In, which is the nation’s first and oldest event dedicated to diversity in literature.

Students also are invited to join a noon Feb. 21 public program, the Ann Thomas & Eileen Miller Memorial Lecture featuring author Michelle Duster at the Ohio County Public Library (OCPL).

This program, which meets in downtown Wheeling at the OCPL, promotes Duster’s book Ida B. the Queen, the story of Black journalist Ida B. Wells, who won a Pulitzer for her coverage during the era of lynching. A shuttle to the library is available for student transportation. 

A tasty option for Black History Month is Aladdin Campus Dining’s special menu honoring Black American Chefs. This dining option will take place in the Bear’s Den cafeteria from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23 and is open to all.

Black History Month will end with a noon – 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 program celebrating music, dance and a special keynote speaker to be held in College Hall.

Activities for Black History Month were planned by a subcommittee of WLU’s Diversity Committee consisting of faculty members Dr. Eveldora Wheeler, Dr. Martin White, Dr. Stuart Cantlay, Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr and employee Ryan Glanville.

For more information on the activities of Black History Month or the Diversity Committee, please visit westliberty.edu/diversity.