The Chapel Hill Public Library is hosting a Umoja read-in on Oct. 8 in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP. The event will feature live music and performances by Black authors.
Umoja means "unity" in Swahili, one of the most spoken languages on the continent of Africa.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP first convened in 1947 at the Hargraves Community Center, and its official anniversary is Oct. 23.
“Whenever we as African Americans and as Blacks can lift up that language, it brings us connection to our homeland,” Deborah Stroman, treasurer of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP and UNC professor, said.
The upcoming 75th anniversary creates unity, Stroman said.
The read-in will feature live music, specifically African drumming, which Stroman said has historically been used to communicate, celebrate and uplift African communities. There will also be a selection of African American soul food as well as traditional African cuisine served at the event.
Stroman said it was essential to find caterers and musicians who can authentically make African food and perform music. She also said the dress code is traditional African garb or colorful clothing.
The program is not just a celebration of 75 years of social justice work but of Black people and Black culture. The main event will be live performances of work created by Black authors to celebrate and uplift Black culture. Members of the community will share their favorite poems, literature and songs from Black creators.
Ebony Readers/Onyx Theatre, the Black Student Movement poetry group, will also be performing.