LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Center
for Black Literature, to be celebrated on October 17, 2013

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commend those
enduring organizations which are devoted to the promotion of culture and
art for the benefit of all; and
WHEREAS, It is, furthermore, the sense of this Legislative Body to
call attention to those events which serve to enhance the cultural
enrichment of the State of New York and preserve the heritage of African
Americans; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concerns, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 10th Anniversary of the Center for Black Literature, to be
celebrated on Thursday, October 17, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 2003, the Center for Black Literature, housed at
Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, is joyously observing its
illustrious decade of honoring the literature of people from the African
Diaspora; and
WHEREAS, Under the skillful leadership of Dr. Brenda M. Greene, the
Center for Black Literature serves as a vital destination and resource
for black writers and the general public to study the literature of
people from the worldwide community of people of African descent, the
only such Center in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Center for Black Literature is to expand,
broaden, and enrich the public's knowledge and aesthetic appreciation of
the value of black literature; for the past ten years it has ably
fulfilled this noteworthy enterprise via convening and supporting a
broad variety of literary programs and events such as author signings,
writing workshops, panel discussions, conferences, and symposia; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Black Literature creatively extends its reach,
breadth and depth through creative collaborations with public schools
and cultural organizations such as the Brooklyn Public Library, the
Brooklyn Museum, the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture,
the Brooklyn Literary Council and the PEN American Center, serving as a
vehicle for nurturing and cultivating the critical reading and writing
habits of a cross-generation of readers and writers; and
WHEREAS, Its innovative offerings over the years include the annual
National Black Writers Conference, the Re-imagining Our Lives Through
Literature CUNY Arts High School Program, the North Country Institute
and Retreat for Writers of Color, the Writers on Writing Radio Program
and the Elder African American Writers Workshop; and
WHEREAS, As it moves boldly into its next decade of presenting, inter-
preting and supporting the best of the Black literary tradition, the
Center for Black Literature may reflect on its past decade with just
pride in its strength and accomplishments, and may look forward to its
future secure in the knowledge that its work enriches the Black communi-
ty, and the entire State of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Center for Black Literature; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Brenda M. Greene, Center for Black Literature.