FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Office of University Communications
Stacie B. Miller
Media Relations Manager
(202) 238-2332
sroyster@howard.edu

Howard University Presents 14th Annual Heart’s Day Tribute
“African American Fiction From Richard Wright to Edward Jones”

Washington, D.C., (February 13, 2008) – The Department of English at Howard University will host its 14th Annual Heart’s Day Conference, “African American Fiction from Richard Wright to Edward Jones,” on Friday, Feb.15 to commemorate its rich intellectual traditions. The event will be held in the Forum of the Armour J. Blackburn Center on the University’s main campus from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Heart’s Day annually commemorates Diasporic African literary traditions. The day-long conference is free and open to the public, while proceeds from the evening tribute support the Department’s effort to fund the Sterling A. Brown Endowed Chair. Brown, a native of Washington, D.C. is recognized as one of the most influential figures in African American literature for his role in the development of the formal academic study of African American literature. During his 60-year tenure at Howard, the author, critic and professor taught future leaders including Toni Morrison, Ossie Davis and Amiri Baraka.

Heart’s Day 2008 will culminate with a Gala Dinner from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., in the East Ballroom of the Blackburn Center. The black-tie event will be hosted by Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert and University of Maryland Baltimore County President Freeman Hrabowski III, in salute of the centenary year of the birth of novelist Richard Wright and in honor of Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Edward P. Jones. One of Wright’s central themes was the plight and rescue of African American young men, a concern of both honored guests. Entertainment will be provided by the Howard University Jazz Ensemble.

For further information about Heart’s Day 2008 or to purchase Gala tickets, call the English Department at 202-806-6730.

About Howard University
Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, a Truman Scholar, a Marshall Scholar, 19 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at www.Howard.edu.

###