Lift Every Voice With Summer Reading

Gastonia, NC (WNN) - While constantly shifting and growing, the African American Museum of History and Culture at Loray Mills has recently created an area to encourage not just reading, but also musicality.  Given its importance to culture, the museum's summer reading program focuses on everything from jazz and blues to gospel and orchestral works. Children from pre-k to fifth grade all have a reading list.  The program focuses on rhythm and illustration in younger groups, while older groups lean into works about the early lives of real musicians. 

The Children’s Reading Corner

Office Manager Nicole Antunes set up the reading corner around a month ago, with its spin being a celebration of June as Black Music Month. Museum Co-Founder Dot Guthrie wanted children to recognize the importance of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”  This is why the program itself is named “Lift Every Voice”, and why the exhibit features the book Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons, whom children will have an opportunity to meet soon.

Childrens Reading Corner at the African American Museum of History and Culture at Loray Mills - June 20, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

Among the selection of books, sits something that many of the children the program is aimed at may not recognize.  The area also holds a record player with records from some of the artists mentioned in the collection.  This allows children to interact with some of the music, the way it was originally recorded, that they may not have experienced before.

Treats To Enjoy

Childrens Reading Corner at the African American Museum of History and Culture at Loray Mills - June 20, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

Guthrie finds that many children can learn when they have an example, which leads to the area rounding out this part of the experience.  So directly beside the reading station are examples of one of the most enticing things on the planet: food.  Children will easily recognize ranch dressing or Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies and be able to hear the stories about how they were created.  The exhibit also features Saratoga Chips, and for classes that visit the museum, Guthrie offers bags to the teacher so children can try them at the teacher's discretion.

Meet the Author: Kelly Starling Lyons

Childrens Reading Corner at the African American Museum of History and Culture at Loray Mills - June 20, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

The museum will host a meet-and-greet with Lyons on June 30th for children in the summer reading program.  Lyons is a Coretta Scott King Author Award recipient for her 2012 book, Ellen’s Broom. Children who attend will all receive a free signed copy of Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations.  This meeting will be at the museum from 10 AM to 1 PM on June 30, 2026

Museum Hours And Location

Loray Mills - Gastonia, NC - June 20, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

If you’d like to visit the museum with your children or on your own, it's located at 300 S Firestone St, Suite P, Gastonia, NC 28052. The hours are below:

You can also reach out to the museum at (980) 888-4005, or at the contact us page on their website, linked here.