Activist Rosa Parks graces annual Marathon Reading

Monday, May 18, 1998

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.