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Wayne County Community College launches inaugural International Public Book Fair

By Randy Walker

What will it take to get thousands of urban African American and other minority group high school children to read more? Whose responsibility is it to create a masterplan that will ensure that young people will start to exchange hip hop�s bombardment and bling for books or essays by [James] Baldwin?

Wayne County Community College District recently launched its Inaugural International Public book fair at its downtown campus spearheading the effort to meet the challenge.

Radio personality, Mildred Gaddis introduced Dr. Cornel West as the guest speaker to a crowd of more than one thousand students, faculty and guests.

He addressed the crowd with passion telling them that, �we are responsible for saving our children.�

Over the years, Dr. West has served as one of the warriors bridging the gap between the hip hop generation and the more traditional Black America.

Others who are taking on that challenge are Al Sharpton, Michael Eric Dyson, Tavis Smiley and Jesse Jackson, just to mention a few.

Students from Highland Park Public Schools, Dado Last Chance Academy, Henry Ford Academy and Detroit Academy of Arts and Science filled the standing room only atrium area to hear the message.

Students listened with amazement as Dr. West spoke to them in hip hop language rather than a high-brow intellectual delivery. Dr. West is also a hip hop artist.

�Kanye West is on top of the hip hop world, but, when you are on top you have to have responsibility as well as creativity. Music is the most fundamental way we get distance from our pain,� he said. Dr. West told the teens, �you need to listen to rap lyrics with a critical mind. Learn to think for yourself and find out what your calling is. There is a difference in a calling and a career. Don�t confuse your day job with your calling.�

Following his talk, Dr. West opened the floor for questions and dialogue.

�How do you feel about the light skin Blacks vs. the dark skin Black?� asked one Highland Park High student.

�It�s the pathology of white supremacy. It started with white folk and has worked its way into the minds of Blacks. Look at your BET videos, what do you see?� Dr. West asked the crowd.

�Light skin dancer, never dark skin,� the high school students shouted back.

After Dr. West ended his presentation, Dr. Swan, Vice Chancellor, came to the podium and announced that everyone present would receive a copy of Dr. West�s latest cd, BMWMB, (Black Men Who Mean Business) featuring Dr. West, Ambassador & Paul Woodruff, Prince, KSR ONE, Andre 3000, Jill Scott, Darryl Moore, Rah Digga, IRIZ and more.

Many could say Wayne County Community College District has served the African American community well in addition to metropolitan Detroit.

Having close contact with young people and students on a daily and consistent basis, the school and its faculty is looking to improve the overall performance and readiness of today�s young generation.

�Our aim is to extend more resources to the students that will make a real difference in their academic endeavors,� said one representative.

�We are offering programs for children of all ages; the Bookworm Club-beginners, ages three - five; The Bookworm Club, ages six & seven, and the Young Readers Club, ages seven � ten, these are just a few of the selective programs from our Continuing Education enrichment program,� said Ms. India Smith, Ph. D., candidate Education Students with Special needs, Campus Operation Associate.

Randy Walker is author of Tripping In the Darkness.