The V.I. Council on the Arts kicked off its third annual Big Read campaign Friday with a reception at St. John’s Battery.
"It’s a program by the National Endowment for the Arts to restore reading to the American culture," Tasida Kelch, special projects coordinator for the Council on the Arts, said.
Almost 100 people attended the reception, whose centerpiece was the distribution of copies of "A Lesson Before Dying," Ernest J. Gaines’ novel about a young black man falsely accused of murder. Kelch said the goal was for the community to read and discuss the book.
Superior Court Magistrate Judge Alan Smith, a St. John resident, spoke at length on the book.
"The book is a love story about the art of living," he said.
Cecile deJongh, who hosted the event, called the book a wonderful story about justice, relationships and treating people with humility.
"It has so many lessons in it," she said.
St. Thomas resident Dara Monifah Cooper was inspired by the book to write a poem titled "Education at Its Best."
"Yes to truly be a teacher is a gift," she read.
The event also featured a performance by national 2008 Poetry Out Loud winner Shawntay Henry, who lives on St. Thomas.
The V.I. Council on the Arts plans to get the reading message out to the community. With that goal in mind, they asked V.I. Police Officer Delvin Fleming to serve as spokesman.
"You’ll hear from us over the course of the next six months," he said.
The reception brought out people from many parts of the community, including three Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School students, who took the ferry to St. John from their St. Thomas base for the event. Jenisha Stapleton 12, said they all belong to their school’s book club.
"I have some exciting books and I love drama books," Joedy Smith, 12, added.
Her friend, Samera Alcedor, 12, also likes drama books.
"They have lessons on life. You can learn from it," she said.
Reading is important to a community, Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry said. She added that during her two years of living on St. Thomas, she’s read about 150 books.
"I am a voracious reader," she said.
Many of those who attended the reception were members of the Friends of Elaine I. Sprauve Library.
"The Friends wants to encourage literacy," member Debbie Hime said.
The reception also featured a buffet of foods inspired by those written about in "A Lesson Before Dying."
"Fried macaroni and cheese," master of ceremonies and University of the Virgin Islands librarian Rachelle Shells said.
Glenn "Kwabena" Davis was on hand to present the Education Department’s Cultural Education Award to the Love City Leapers jump rope team for its performance in the 2009 July 4th Celebration parade.
