THE READING ROOM

SIKESTON -- When Homer Jackson began seriously studying African-American culture 10 years ago, his collection of books grew quickly.

"They were in the garage, under the bed, everywhere," says his wife, Dianne.

Today, an estimated 4,000 books are housed in a building the Jacksons call The Reading Room, a library and research center they established so children can learn about African-American culture.

Homer teaches physical education at Sikeston Middle School, and Dianne is a nurse practitioner at SEMO Health Network in New Madrid. Once word got out about their books, students began asking to borrow them to write papers and make reports.

"People wanted to have the information," Dianne said.

Last year, with the help of owner Larron Watson and a loan from the First National Bank of Sikeston, the Jacksons bought the former Mama's Kitchen restaurant building at 1117 W. Malone to house the collection. Checking out a book is free, but you must leave behind the cost of the book to insure its return.

The Reading Room provides a relaxed setting with leather furniture and African artifacts. Last year the Jacksons offered tutoring each evening, but the city now is doing the same through the Weed and Seed Program.

The Reading Room already is more than a library. Open every day in the summer, the facility provides space for a summer youth program in which children make pottery and other kinds of art.

During the winter, The Reading Room opens on demand for people wanting to do research. All they have to do is call the Jacksons at (573) 471-7113.

The Reading Room recently received a $27,800 grant from the Missouri Arts Council to sponsor arts programs. The money will be used for arts programs. Upcoming is a performance by the St. Louis reggae band Infrared Rockets and an upcoming appearance by a storyteller.

Dianne said her husband became fascinated with African-American culture once Homer began reading about it.

"He would stay up at night," she said. "It was all he wanted to talk about."

The first book Homer read was "A Prince Among Slaves," followed by Ivan Van Sertima's "They Came Before Columbus."

"It gave me information I had not been

(exposed to," he said. "I knew pretty much the Eurocentric view of history but nothing of Africans before they came to America. That page of history had not been there for me."

One book's suggested reading list led him to another.

Dianne began getting interested in the books herself about three years ago. Last year, she went on a medical mission to Senegal and met the descendants of some of the authors who wrote Homer's books.

The purpose of The Reading Room is to give people the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective, Homer said, adding: "What I wanted to do was share the information I had gathered with others in the same position I was -- not knowing these books even existed. They opened up a whole new world for me."

Reading is a powerful tool for change, he said, explaining: "As I have been empowered through reading, I hope others will be inspired to empower themselves through reading.")