Book Donations Needed For the Community
By Jewelean Magee
The Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post 24 and the members of the African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation are asking the community for book donations of fiction, nonfiction, historical, health, bibles, and cookbooks by African American authors.
Mr. Jerry Bowman, post historian and veteran service officer for the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post, spearheaded the post’s book lending library over three years ago, because he knows that there is a need in the community to get people all across the board to start reading books, and asks: “How many African Americans kids, teens, and adults know about or read the literary works of Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, August Wilson, and countless other African American authors? This is why the Black book lending library has started and will be handing out books throughout the city. After the person is done reading the book, we ask that they give the book to another person to read.”
Mr. Bowman also went on to say that he is making African American books available to children so they can know about how our history began, what is going on in the world today and plan their future for tomorrow.
“When I was growing up, we read books, newspapers, magazines and other types of literature that was available. Now it seems that picking up a book to read is a thing of the past.”
Another reason why Mr. Bowman stresses the importance of reading books by African American authors is the “critical race theory.” Books are being banned from libraries, elementary/middle schools and colleges are spreading like wildfires across the country. “There are people from other cultures saying that slavery didn’t exist. Which is why giving out books by African American authors is a positive way of combating this issue and getting the message out about what African Americans to deal with during slavery, discrimination, and segregation, and the civil rights movement during the 1960’s. These are topics/subjects aren’t being taught in classrooms anymore. But I have books that say otherwise.”
Mr. Bowman further stated that as veterans, it’s our responsibility to stand up and educate our children that critical race theory is real and the harm has already been done to erase our culture. “If a person can fight for their country, then that veteran can fight for survival of our children and community.”
Finally, Mr. Bowman would like for the community to look for the book lend library around the city at post events. The community can donate their books by emailing the JohnettaRColePost24@gmail.com and the African American Veteran Arts & Culture Corporation at aavaccbuffalo21@gmail.com.