Grace Jackson-Brown, Chairperson of the committee for the Springfield African American Read-In (AARI) and Professor of the Missouri State University (MSU) Libraries, announces that the AARIC will welcome two authors with local roots back to Springfield to celebrate Black History Month 2022.

Brandy Colbert, award-winning Young Adult Author, is scheduled to give a virtual presentation with live Q & A on Thursday, February 17, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, at the Library Center (4652 S. Campbell Ave, Springfield, MO). Ms Colbert grew up in Springfield, Missouri and graduated from Glendale High School. She graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in journalism. Ms. Colbert’s most recent book publications are Black Birds in the Sky (2021) and The Voting Booth (2020).

Black Birds in the Sky is an historical account of the 1921 massacre that happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma against a community known as the Black Wall Street. The book is recommended for young adults, as well as history buff readers of all ages, by a reviewer in the journal Booklist, which wrote a review of the audio version of the book .

The Voting Booth is a well written book with interesting plot twists and character development. The reader is taken through a 24-hour run to get the election ballot cast of one of the book’s main characters, an African American male named Duke.

Charlotte Johnson Cosby, retired educator and author of the children’s book, Dad’s Mission: A Pictorial History of Colonel Fredrick Drew, U.S. Astronaut will give a special guest talk as part of a program on Saturday, February 19, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm at the Diversity Center on the Drury University campus. Charlotte, before retiring and relocating, was an elementary school teacher in Springfield.

Both events are open to a public audience and are free. Celebration cake pops to be served to attendees at both events.

The Springfield African American Read-In is a collaborative partnership of five organizations: Missouri State University Libraries, Springfield-Greene County Libraries, Springfield Public Schools, Drury University, and the NAACP Springfield Chapter.