Telling the Lion’s Tale

Faculty Profile

Chris Hart-Williams | Correspondent 

The African American Cultural Center welcomes a new member to its family

Angela Jenkins joined the AACC staff last week as the new librarian of the Reading Room, replacing Carla Sarratt.

Not only new to her job, Jenkins is new to the state, having moved to Rocky Mount from Langhorne, PA with her husband only a year and half ago. “Before I took the position here, I had little experience in Raleigh, I can count on my hand how many times I had been [here]- once.”

Previously, Jenkins worked in the private sector, for a New Jersey hospital trade association in their corporate library, which served over 120 hospitals. The library served as a supplement to member hospitals’ clinical libraries by providing research resources to its staff. It also provided resources to local universities such as Princeton and Rutgers.

When Jenkins first moved to the state she volunteered at her local public library where she became familiar with the African American history of eastern N.C.

“I am enjoying myself so far. I am impressed with the [AACC Library’s] collection. I’ve never seen so many good books in one place before,” said Jenkins. “It’s just amazing, the collection.”

She plans to increase the collection even more over the course of the year.

Jenkins’ favorite books in the library’s collection thus far are: Precolonial Black Africa by Cheikh Anta Diop and Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself — And the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future by Harriet Washington.

In preparation for the Clark Lecture hosted annually by the Cultural Center, in which Washington will discuss the history of medical experimentation on African Americans, Jenkins will prepare a special collection of Washington’s books.

In her short time here, Jenkins says she has felt welcomed by the University and the AACC, citing the Harambee celebration as one of the highlights of her week. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone.”