Author delivers literary account of Black History
Continuing the celebration of Black History Month, LSU welcomed renown African-American author E. Lynn Harris to give insight to his many successful books.”He is one of my very favorite authors,” said Lekeisha Lee, an ISDS senior. “He writes so vividly that it makes you just want to read more. I’ve heard him speak before, and it is a pleasure to hear how he describes his stories in words.”Harris not only spoke to the crowd of about 200, but read an essay that he had only read one other time in public.The essay, titled “Cherish,” profoundly described what can happen when people like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. stand up and stay standing.Harris, who graduated from Arkansas State University, was both the first African-American editor of the yearbook and the first African American cheerleader.Harris explained his struggles and how he was able to rise above the obstacles because of the support he received from the black community.”Know that everyday is a day to be proud of your heritage,” Harris said.Harris showed optimism about LSU’s advancements in black history.”I’ve been very impressed with LSU. With a supportive student body president and an involved student body, LSU remains one of the most racially progressive schools I’ve visited.”Harris, a resident of New York, is currently working on making one of his novels into a movie with the help of actress Halle Berry.
Tim Basilica