The Lower Merion High School library recently played host to a special event entitled The Power of the Pen as part of the National African American Read-In (AARI). The AARI is a groundbreaking effort founded in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to celebrate African American literature and authors, and to promote literacy as a significant aspect of Black History Month.
Members of the LMHS community gathered in the library as students from the Global Citizenship and Black Excellence courses took the podium as they either delivered presentations on influential African American social justice activists or shared readings penned by iconic African American writers. The presentations highlighted such prominent individuals as Michelle Obama, Amanda Gorman, Bob Marley, Patrisse Cullors, Tarana Burke and Stacey Abrams, among others, while words of powerful poets like Maya Angelou and Phillis Wheatley were read aloud for the many students and staff in attendance.