SMYRNA — Author Dr. Daniel Black, who teaches African-American Studies at Clark Atlanta University, read selections from his work as the featured speaker at the Jonquil City’s second annual Black History Month observance at the Smyrna Community Center.
The annual event has sold out both years, according to Mary Moore, director of the Smyrna Public Library, which helped set it up. The evening consisted of a dinner followed by Black reading passages from his work, which had the majority of the 100 or so people on hand on the edge of their seats.
Reading selections included “The Coming,” which according to Amazon, “tells the story of a people’s capture and sojourn from their homeland across the Middle Passage — a traumatic trip that exposed the strength and resolve of the African spirit.”
Another reading was from “Black on Black,” a book about the resilience and brilliance of the Black community in America, according to publisher HarperCollins.
“I tried to do the audio (for the books) and they said I was too dramatic,” Black said, joking that his reading style would have led to automobile accidents.
After the reading, Black encouraged attendees to make the most of the opportunity given to them.
“There are people all over who dreamed of (the opportunities) and their names were never called,” he said. “When you get an opportunity, run with it.”