From left, Mr. Tracy Alexander, Dr. Marcelite Dingle Johnson, Dr. Janice Johnson Alexander, Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, and Dr. Jermaine Whirl.The Asa H. Gordon Library at Savannah State University (SSU) has received a significant donation of 214 fiction and non-fiction books examining social justice and the lived experience of the American South.
The collection was donated by Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, former president of Tennessee State University, and his wife, Dr. Marcelite Dingle Johnson, and formally presented to SSU President Jermaine Whirl.
The books were originally submitted for consideration as part of the prestigious Lillian Smith Book Awards, administered by the Southern Regional Council. Established in 1966 following the death of influential Southern writer and civil rights advocate Lillian Smith, the awards recognize authors whose work confronts racial and social injustice and advances a vision of equity and understanding.
As longtime jurors for the awards, the Johnsons received an average of 80 books annually, evaluating works that span historical analysis, contemporary commentary, and literary fiction. The donated collection includes titles published between 1996 and 2024, offering decades of scholarly and creative perspectives on the evolving Southern experience.
“It is really an outstanding opportunity to really dig into the civil rights advocacy that’s been going on for a number of years and even some of the more current topics that are facing us all in terms of the changes in our country and the world, said Dr. Johnson.
The Johnsons’ decision to donate the collection to SSU was deeply personal. Dr. Jonson noted that multiple generations of his family attended the institution and its predecessor, Georgia State Industrial College, creating a lasting bond with the university.
“My wife’s parents both attended Savannah State University, my sister-in-law, my mother, sister and even our grandmother attended Georgia Industrial, which was one of the forerunners of Savannah State,” said Dr. Johnson.
“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Melvin and Dr. Marcelite Johnson for this extraordinary gift and for their enduring connection to Savannah State University,” said President Whirl. “This remarkable collection strengthens our library as a center for critical inquiry and reflection, offering students, faculty, and scholars access to powerful works that confront the complexities and realities of race and social justice in the American South.”
Housed within the Asa H. Gordon Library, the collection will serve as a vital resource for coursework, faculty scholarship, and campus-wide dialogue—ensuring that future generations of students engage thoughtfully with the histories and ideas that shape our society.
