Savannah State library receives major donation of books on social justice

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Asa H. Gordon Library at Savannah State University has received a major donation of books focused on social justice and the lived experience of the American South.

The collection includes 214 fiction and nonfiction titles donated by Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, former president of Tennessee State University, and his wife, Dr. Marcelite Dingle Johnson. The books were formally presented to Savannah State University President Jermaine Whirl on January 20, 2026.

The donated titles were originally submitted for consideration as part of the Lillian Smith Book Awards, administered by the Southern Regional Council. Established in 1966 following the death of Southern writer and civil rights advocate Lillian Smith, the awards recognize authors whose work confronts racial and social injustice and promotes equity and understanding.

As longtime jurors for the awards, the Johnsons reviewed an average of 80 books each year, examining 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.

Dr. Johnson said the collection provides an opportunity to examine both the history of civil rights advocacy and the current social challenges shaping the nation.