Monday, May 18
Activist Rosa Parks graces annual Marathon Reading
EVENT: University, local community celebrate unity, diversity,
literatureBy Emi KojimaDaily Bruin StaffWhen Rosa Parks made a
surprise visit to the English Department’s annual Marathon Reading
Thursday evening, the audience was floored. No one had expected
that the civil rights legend would throw her support behind the
event.Parks, now 85, changed history in 1955 when she sat in the
"whites only" section of a Montgomery, Ala. bus in protest of
segregation laws."I’m happy that we made it here all right," Parks
said, on her arrival.So were the organizers and attendees of the
annual Marathon Reading, which featured Ralph Ellison’s "Invisible
Man." Published in 1952, the novel addresses the African-American
community’s lack of voice and power in the United States.Some 150
people read during the two-day event, which is held annually to
raise money for student scholarships.The "Invisible Man" reading
raised $8,000 through donations from businesses and
individuals.Parks, who arrived at the event with four escorts,
received a standing ovation on her entrance Thursday night.Others
were equally stunned and delighted that the "mother of the civil
rights movement" came to the reading."I’m speechless," said Los
Angeles City Treasurer J. Paul Brownridge, one of the readers.
"We’re so pleased that … (Parks) could revere our many great
black writers, and show her standing 50-year commitment to making a
difference."Park’s presence at the event demonstrated the rising
prominence of the annual reading in the L.A. community.The reading
of Ellison’s intense and disturbing novel clearly united a
community – not only of those of African-American heritage, but
book lovers and the Los Angeles area as a whole."Not only did
(Park’s attendance) show that the Marathon Reading is a fun
literary event, but that it is a cultural event of major
significance," said Greg Jackson, graduate student of English and
founder of the reading. Jackson said that Parks’s appearance at the
event "made my life."Similarly, the novel has had an impact on many
of the readers and attendees of the event.Brownridge said he
remembered reading the novel in 1968 for a college class, the year
that Martin Luther King, Jr., died."This powerful story sent the
message that we must work toward making a difference," he told the
audience.Brownridge said that he took the message to heart and
worked his way up to become the Los Angeles City Treasurer to fight
against the silencing of his community.Indeed, many of the readers
who gave voice to Ellison’s protagonist – a nameless, young
African-American male in search of his identity – said that the
novel’s message that many people are not socially and politically
recognized is timeless and speaks to modern audiences today.The
novel shows that people see the protagonist as they choose to see
him.Michael Ellison-Lewis, a political activist who attended the
reading, said, "The book is very important to audiences today.""A
lot of people still are invisible with Prop. 209," he said,
referring to the law that ended affirmative action in California.
"We still need to increase the right to become visible and for
people to live and work together," he said.The "Invisible Man" was
selected by the Marathon Reading committee because it is an
American classic and because of its length – an estimated 20 hours
of reading, although the event ended a little under three hours
early.Organizers said the success of this year’s event was due in
part to Ellison-Lewis’s support for the fund-raiser."You can’t have
education without finances," Ellison-Lewis said, stressing the
importance of increasing literacy.Ellison-Lewis invited several
guests to the event, including Parks. But not even Ellison-Lewis
expected her to come to UCLA.The state of California also
recognized the Marathon Reading and this year’s choice of author.
Speaking at the reading on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Gray
Davis, Mike Bustamante proclaimed May 14, 1998 Ralph Ellison
Day.This year, the Marathon Reading attracted more celebrities to
read than ever before. Actor John Lithgow, "The Simpsons" voiceover
artist Harry Shearer and actress Mayim Bialik all read at the
event. People signed up to read for 5- to 10-minute intervals
beginning Thursday at noon until 9:15 a.m. on Friday.Though the
professional talent made the reading more rousing, other
participating readers gave more emotional readings."Of course, John
Lithgow gave a wonderful reading. But there was even a more
heartfelt reading by people in the local community," said J. Darrin
Mcgraw, the chair of the event.While in past years, the Marathon
Reading presented the sheer challenge of finishing an
intimidatingly long novel — and staying up all night to do it –
this year, people took the content of the novel seriously.A
professional storyteller, Brother Heartfire, commented on the fact
that many readers were fairly emotional."Michael Ellison-Lewis’s
voice cracked during his performance," said Heartfire. "People
recognize the sincerity when you do that."Kirsten Roe, a
second-year English student, agreed."This year, more people were
listening and less people were talking," she said."Why is Carnesale
afraid to let students hear what he has to say? Is he afraid we are
going to hear him say again that he believes education is not a
right?" he continued.Williams said police pushed him over the
perches in front of Royce and into the bushes. Apparently disgusted
and hurt by the ongoing events, he was in tears."Are we not as
important as they are? Is that what you are trying to tell me?"
asked Williams to the unresponsive police officers.Williams and
other students leaned over the police barrier, attempting to get a
response as to why they were being kept out of the ceremony.Two of
the three arrests were made as eight students made their way inside
the building after the ceremonies had started. They were stopped by
police on the third floor of Royce before they could get into the
auditorium, and they were then directed outside.Garrick Ruiz and
Luan Huynh were among those who had attempted to enter the
auditorium. They were arrested for resisting a peace officer right
after police led them out of the building.Ruiz, a fourth-year
American literature student, said that while most of the police
were letting them out as they were walking, a couple of officers
ran toward them and grabbed two of the students in the group."I saw
them grab Luan (Huynh), and pick her up off the ground, so I
stopped and I yelled at that guy, and that’s when they grabbed me
and put me under arrest," he said.About a dozen police officers
took part in the confrontation, with more standing behind. The
police were in riot gear at that point, and at least one had his
baton out. "Students were removed, pushed and thrown over police
barricades," said Liz Geyer, external vice president-elect."The way
students were treated during the inauguration is a chilling
indication of the extent to which the Carnesale-led administration
will go to silence student voice," she addedJust as Carnesale began
his speech inside, protesters walked over to the reception near the
fountain and ate food provided for the public.Soon the protest
dispersed, although some people went down to Westwood
Plaza.Reactions of guests leaving the ceremony were mixed."I think
it harkens back to the old days," said Minoru Tonai, board member
of the UCLA Foundation. He added that Mosley "certainly made a
point," although it could have been more constructive.Others, like
alumnus Dean Cameron, were angered."This is outrageous, tasteless
and gross. (Mosley) should be impeached," he said. He walked off
adding that "you can fill in the four-letter words."Some guests
agreed that Friday’s events were exactly the type of activism
needed to overturn Proposition 209."People are taking the offensive
against the policy, and it absolutely needs to be opposed," said
Steve Louie, an activists during the 1960s who fought for the
creation of Asian American Studies centers."I am really glad to be
able to see this. Militance is very, very good," he added.With
reports by Edina Lekovic, Mason Stockstill and Stefanie Wong, Daily
Bruin Senior Staff.
KAREN ROWE
Rosa Parks speaks at UCLA’s annual Marathon Reading.