File, Digital Video

The Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series
Charles Johnson
Reading and Writing Awards Presentation

Digital video transferred from a DVD+R containing edited footage of Dr. Charles Johnson's Reading/Book Signing event and the preceding Writing Awards Presentation, both held at Marygrove College on April 7, 2006, as part of the Contemporary American Authors Lecture series.

The program begins with a title sequence set to music. The recording of the Reading/Book Signing event begins with Dr. Frank Rashid providing opening remarks and introducing outgoing Marygrove College president Dr. Glenda D. Price. Dr. Price gets a standing ovation, then speaks about the lecture series. Dr. Rashid then returns to the podium to introduce lecture series alumni Dr. Mary Helen Washington. Dr. Washington provides an introduction for Dr. Charles Johnson.

Next, Dr. Charles Johnson reads "Dr. King's Refrigerator," then entertains questions from the audience. In his responses to these, he discusses finding time to write, the literacy program which inspired "Dr. King's Refrigerator: And Other Bedtime Stories," the tone of "Middle Passage," his thought process which lead him to center a story about a midnight snack about Martin Luther King, Jr., the growth of publishing opportunities for African American writers, his path to becoming a cartoonist and a writer, and an earlier manuscript for "Middle Passage" and how it developed into the final version. During this section, the camera spins around to get a full pan around the crowd. Following the question and answer period background music swells as Dr. Rashid returns to offer some closing remarks.

Footage from the Writing Awards Presentation follows. This segment begins with Dr. Glenda D. Price at the podium addressing the attendees. The background music again swells briefly as she talks. Dr. Price presents a gift to the event's sponsors, Dr. Lillian Bauder, and Donald Bauder. She then introduces Dr. Frank Rashid who recognizes Dr. Price with a gift, then announces the winners of the McCombs-Currier Writing Awards. After the winning students post for photos, Dr. Price calls Dr. Charles Johnson to the microphone. He briefly addresses the crowd and expresses his thanks. Finally, Dr. Price's closing remarks crossfade into a closing credits scroll.