“Antiracism is a practice, not a degree plan.“
-from the Book Club’s Grounding Principles
AntiRacist Book Club was an affinity space for non-black PoCs (people of color) and white allies who were interested in reading antiracist literature as a first step toward combating anti-blackness in our communities, our families and ourselves.
While this program was active, Book Club members read one book per month and conduct monthly discussions via Zoom and an online Discord channel for an ongoing conversation between meetings. This Book Club members understood that this practice was just one small act that we can take to dismantle white supremacy and work toward our collective liberation. As a part of our work, we engaged in deep discussions about our own accountability and actions we could take as individuals to participate in the movement to confront anti-blackness in all aspects of our lives.
As people who love to read, we approached this work with the same joy that we find in engaging with any great book, but acknowledged this work included challenging ourselves and each other to grow together.
The initial invite to The Book Club was open to people across the country. For more information about the Book Club, including participation information and its overall impact, please contact beto@radicalevolution.org.
Reading History (updated periodically)
June 2021 - The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza
May 2021 - Hammer and Hoe by Robin D. G. Kelley
April 2021 - Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
March 2021 - Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur
February 2021 - Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements; adrienne maree brown (editor); Walidah Imarisha (editor)
December 2020 - Just Us by Claudia Rankine
November 2020 - The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
October 2020 - Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
September 2020 - Killing Rage, Ending Racism by bel hooks
August 2020 - The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
July 2020 - How to be an Antiracist by Ibrim X. Kendi