Media subliminally bombard people with negative portrayals and stereotypes of Black people while doing little to represent the great contributions that Blacks have made in society and literature. This trend and lack of representation are also visible in schools, in particular the English classroom. Students are not often exposed to many writers of color in school. In this article, the author describes the African American Read-In, which presents a different picture as it acknowledges the countless contributions that Blacks have made to literature, and provides an opportunity for students and teachers to get a deeper sense of the contributions and legacy of Black writers. Beyond educating students and teachers about the contributions of Black writers, the African American Read-In is also an opportunity for Black youth to use writing to express their thoughts and feelings. (Contains 1 note.)