
CSAD GLOBAL READ-A-THON
A livestream, virtual event 9 A – 4 P at our Atlanta Campus
Presented by Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
UNITING THE WORLD
THROUGH BOOKS
The Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora (CSAD) at GSU aims to unite the world around literacy and reading, with special emphasis on books that celebrate Africa and the African Diaspora.
For Black people in the U.S., books are not only invaluable learning tools but powerful symbols of freedom. It was unlawful for African Americans to learn how to read or write during slavery, with the enslaved being cruelly punished just for daring to pick up a book
The current assault on books is not new nor uniquely American. This centuries-old practice continues to threaten freedom of expression and scholarship globally. According to PEN American, an organization that promotes literary freedom, in the 2021-2022 school year, more than 2500 books were banned in more than 30 states. The organization found that the most targeted books feature “… protagonists of color, dealing with issues of race, or highlighting LGBTQ+ characters.” Among the most banned books and authors is The Bluest Eye by Nobel laureate, Toni Morrison.
Whether sharing books that have been banned, introducing literary classics to a new audience, or unveiling new publications, the CSAD Global Read-a-Thon is a continuous literacy and book promoting virtual celebration.
#CSADREADS
Special Guest Reader
Author & Actor, Akosua Busia
She played “Nettie” in the film The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker.
There is some hysteria associated with the idea of reading that is all out of proportion to what...in fact happens when one reads
-NOBEL LAUREATE
TONI MORRISON
GLOBAL READ-A-THON SCHEDULE

"When I look back, books have always been part of the arc of my life. From the time I was a child, my parents ensured my history was not just the living history of our everyday lives, but the history that stretched back centuries, to our Black ancestry. Our resilience, pride, tragedies, and triumphs were all in the books that filled our home. Today, I make sure I pass on that legacy of reading and learning to my own daughter."
--Suzanne Malveaux
Former CNN Anchor & White House Correspondent
CSAD TEAM
Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora
Atlanta, Georgia @ CMII BUILDING
9 A -10 AThe US Embassy
Banjul,The Gambia @ The US Embassy
10 A-11 AJGU Obama Institute
Mainz, Germany @ JGU OBAMA INSTITUTE
11 A - 12 P
Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora
Atlanta, Georgia @ CMII BUILDING
12 P - 2 PUniversity of the West Indies - MONA
Kingston, Jamaica @ University of West Indies
2 P - 3 PCenter for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora
Atlanta, Georgia @ CMII BUILDING
3 P - 4 P
READ-A-THON PARTICIPANTS
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Host | Welcome & Introduction |
Committed | A Cappella Vocal Ensemble | Vocal performance | “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” James Weldon Johnson |
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, Ph.D. | GSU Provost, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | About the college of arts |
Monica Pearson | Iconic Atlanta Broadcast Journalist | Reader | Sula, Toni Morrison |
PEN America: The Freedom to Write | An Evening of Forbidden Books, 1982 | Video clip | “Toni Morrison: On Censorship, Literacy, and Literature” |
Maria Clark (Toni Morrison Memorial Concert) | Soprano, Spelman College and Emory University Vocal Studies Instructor | Vocal performance | “A Quality Love,” Margaret Garner Libretto, Toni Morrison |
Sarah Rosen | GSU Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | Personal History |
The Color Purple | The Color Purple, Alice Walker (film adaptation) | Video clip | “Nothing but death will keep me from it” scene, The Color Purple |
Monica Pearson | Iconic Atlanta Broadcast Journalist | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | Outlook on GSU |
Akosua Busia | Actress, Author, Screenwriter (Beloved) | Reader | The Color Purple, Alice Walker |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Reader | “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day,” Nikki Giovanni, discusses Roots |
Roots | Roots, Alex Haley (film adaptation) | Video clip | “I Saw a White Man” scene |
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Fatoumata Ceesay | Media Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Banjul | Host | Welcome & Introduction |
Sharon L. Cromer | United States Ambassador to The Gambia | Host | Introduction & Remarks |
Juneteenth Celebration on Kunta Kinteh Island | Juneteenth Celebration on Kunta Kinteh Island | Video clip | Juneteenth Celebration on Kunta Kinteh Island, 2022 |
Nana Grey-Johnson | Author, Lecturer, University of The Gambia | Reader | I of Ebony, Nana Grey-Johnson |
Cherno Omar Barry | President of Gambia Writers Association Poet | Reader | Roots, Alex Haley |
Jali Hammeh Saho | Griot, Kora Master | Musical performance | “Mama Tamba” song for Chief Seyfo Mama Tamba Jammeh Jilankaa of Illiyassa |
Yankuba Manburay | Author | Reader | The Search for a Lost Brother, Yankuba Manburay |
Saidou Anna Ibn Ahmad | Gambia Writers Association | Reader | “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Phillis Wheatley |
Cherno Gaye | Activist, Public Speaker | Reader | “Reborn,” Cherno Gay |
Jali Hammeh Saho | Griot, Kora Master | Musical performance | Kora and Vocal song |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Introduction | Door of No Return photo montage |
Akosua Busia | Actress, Author, Screenwriter (Beloved) | Reader | The Seasons of Beento Blackbird, Akosua Busia |
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Prof Dr. Mita Banerjee | Professor in JGU Obama Institute | Host | Welcome & Introduction |
Prof. Dr. Alfred Hornung | Professor in JGU Obama Institute | Host | Opening remarks & Obama Institute Overview |
Jonathan Jones | Independent researcher and Student, JGU Obama Institute | Host | Black History Month overview, Program schedule |
Prof. Dr. Oliver Scheiding | Professor in JGU Obama Institute | Reader | Writing to Save a Life, “The File,” John Edgar Wideman |
Jonathan Jones | Independent researcher and Student, JGU Obama Institute | Interviewer | Racism and Being Black in Germany (Frankfurt) |
Thomas Boakye | Student, JGU Obama Institute | Dance performance | “Spirit Speaks” |
Prof. Dr. Alfred Hornung | Professor in JGU Obama Institute | Reader | Reaction to murder of George Floyd, Gunawan Mohamed |
JGU Obama Institute Students | JGU Obama Institute | Montage | Reflections on being Black, comp. Samira Deq, Jonathon |
Prof Dr. Mita Banerjee | Professor in JGU Obama Institute | Reader | Selections from Blues in Black and White, May Ayim |
Jonathan Jones | Independent researcher and Student, JGU Obama Institute | Host | Closing remarks |
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Till | Till, Chinonye Chukwu d | Video clip | “The Business of Us All” |
Kilombo Vocal Ensemble | Kilombo School Academic and Cultural Institute | Vocal performance | “We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest” |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Host | “Knowledge is Power” hour, Dreams of My Father, Barack Obama |
Sabrina Zaiene | CSAD Graduate Research Assistant | Reader | The Dew Breaker, Edwidge Danticat |
Dr. Katie Acosta | GSU Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies Sociology | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | LGBTQ+ families ; Zami, Audre Lord ; Borderlands, Gloria Anzaldua |
Dr. Elizabeth West | CSAD Director of Academics | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | Phillis Wheatley, Forced migrations, Finding Francis |
Josephine Arsenio, Kiana Dugan, Victoria Escalante, Michelle Smith, Tynerea Taylor, Holly Whitfield | University of North Texas Dept of Theatre and Dance | Dance performance | Three Stages of Having to Prove Your Humanity, “Stage 1: Hunted,” Azaria Hogans |
Dr. Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey | GSU Associate Professor, Political Science, Africana Studies, CASA | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | HipHop in Politics, Social Justice, For the Culture: HipHop and the Fight for Social Justice |
Josephine Arsenio, Kiana Dugan, Victoria Escalante, Michelle Smith, Tynerea Taylor, Holly Whitfield | University of North Texas Dept of Theatre and Dance | Dance performance | “Stage 2: Excuse the mess we live here,” Azaria Hogans |
Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora | Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora | Event promo video | “The Weight of the Crown” panel; Zane Asher book talk |
Edvige Jean-Francois, DHumLitt | CSAD Executive Director | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | Literacy, Haitian pride and history, Mental health/trauma, Censorship |
Josephine Arsenio, Kiana Dugan, Victoria Escalante, Michelle Smith, Tynerea Taylor, Holly Whitfield | University of North Texas Dept of Theatre and Dance | Dance performance | “Stage 3: The mourning stage,” Azaria Hogans |
Kilombo Drum Ensemble | Kilombo School Academic and Cultural Institute | Musical performance | Drum quintet |
Dr. Jonathon Gayles | GSU Professor and Chair of African American Studies | In conversation with Suzanne Malveaux | Africana Studies, New Black Man, Mark Anthony Neal |
Ian Banks | Illustrator | Time-lapse illustration video | “Under Ground” |
Dr. Tanya Washington-Hicks | GSU Professor of Law | Reader | Tar Baby, Toni Morrison |
Remi Des-Ogugua | Student, Agnes Scott College | Reader | “Letter From Birmingham City Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King |
Dr. R. Nicole Smith | Senior Lecturer, Spelman College | Reader | Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler |
Sabrina Zaiene | CSAD Programs | Reader | The Dew Breaker, Edwidge Danticat |
Keith Douglas and Candace West | Performance Artists | Dramatic performance | Blues for an Alabama Sky, Pearl Cleage |
Demetrius Minnick-Tucker | PhD Student, Georgia State University | Reader | “The American Apocalypse,” Frederick Douglass |
Parker Blair | CSAD Intern | Reader | Teaching to Transgress, bell hooks |
Dr. Elizabeth West | CSAD Director of Academics | Reader | Memorial Drive, Natasha Trethewey |
Jalen Smith | Student, Kennesaw State University | Vocal performance | “A Change is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke |
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Dr. Rachel Moseley Wood | Senior Lecturer and Head of Dept. of Literatures in English, University of West Indies, Mona | Host | Welcome & Introduction |
Jovante Anderson | Poet | Reader | “I Been There,” Mervyn Morris; “Articulating A Caribbean Aesthetic,” Gordon Rohlehr |
Topher Allen | Poet, Fiction writer | Reader | “The Migrating Aroma of Bleach,” The Gods are Addicts,” “Blackout,” Roger Mais |
Jesse Mayers | Graduate student, University of West Indies, Mona | Reader | “Donbwé,” Vladimir Lucien; “Flying Uncle,” Jesse Mayers |
Dr. Cornel Bogle | Sessional Associate Professor, York University | Reader | “Mermaid River,” Alexia Arthurs |
Blaire Santos | Student, University of West Indies, Mona | Reader | “Old Man,” Kalilah Enriquez |
Yashika Graham | Writer, Visual Artist | Reader | “Where I Come From,” Lorna Goodison; “Exile,” Dennis Scott; “A Caribbean Postcard from Fort Worden,” Yashika Graham |
Dr. Lisa Brown | Lecturer, University of West Indies, Mona | Reader | “O Zion, Hear These Words,” pt. 2 of The Last Warner Women, Kei Miller |
Dr. Rachel Moseley Wood | University of West Indies, Mona | Host | Closing remarks |
Rootz Impact Band | Reggae Band | Music Video | “Ready Now” |
Annaje’ | Singer-Songwriter, Musician | Music Video | “Jah Jah Daughter” |
Name | Title | Role | Selection/Topic |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Host | Final hour introduction, Montage of children reading |
Tayari Jones | Author, Professor of Creative Writing Emory University | Reader | An American Marriage, Tayari Jones |
Jali Hammeh Saho | Griot, Kora Master | Musical performance | “Mama Tamba” song for Chief Seyfo Mama Tamba Jammeh Jilankaa of Illiyassa |
Edwidge Danticat | Haitian American author | Reader | “Women Like Us” Epilogue, Krik? Krak! |
Dr. Akinyele Umoja | GSU Professor of African American Studies | Reader | “Mermaid River,” Alexia Arthurs |
Blaire Santos | Student, University of West Indies, Mona | Reader | We Will Shoot Back, Dr. Akinyele Umoja |
Trey Clegg Singers | - | Musical performance | - |
Chiquelo Ikemufulo Odimbe | Student, Kilombo School Academic and Cultural Institute | Reader | Akata Witch, Nnedi Okorafor |
Dr. Akinyele Umoja | GSU Professor of African American Studies | Reader | We Will Shoot Back, Dr. Akinyele Umoja |
Kilombo Drum Ensemble | Kilombo School Academic and Cultural Institute | Musical performance | Drum duo |
Suzanne Malveaux | Former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent | Reader | We’re Better Than This, Elijah Cummings |
Kilombo Drum and Dance Ensemble | Kilombo School Academic and Cultural Institute | Drum and dance performance | Drum and Dance Performance |
Contact Us
Center for Studies on Africa and its Diaspora
Mailing address:
College of Arts & Sciences
P.O. Box 4038
Atlanta, GA 30302-4038