Racism

[close] This book club formed in Hillsborough Township Public Schools in NJ by a group of concerned educators including teachers, school counselors, and administrators. We originally intended to read the two books suggested for book clubs by the BARWE (Building Antiracist White Educators) group from Philadelphia, PA. We did that and we continue to read books that stimulate thought, conversation, and action around antiracist education.

[close] In this Book Group, we will focus on gaining the knowledge and vocabulary to challenge negative stereotypes about Blacks. For example: • Blacks always live in rundown slums and ghettos • Blacks are taking all the good jobs from Whites • I am not a racist, I see everyone as equal Maybe you have heard these comments and wished you had the information or language to offer a counter perspective. Or, maybe you have these beliefs and want to explore alternative viewpoints. If so, this Book Group is for you. I started it because I had these experiences and have struggled to develop coherent contrasting-stories about Blacks. I adopted the term stories after watching a TED Talk titled: The Danger of a Single Story by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. As stated earlier, in this Book Group, we will focus on gaining the knowledge and vocabulary to challenge negative stereotypes about Blacks. We will do that by reading books about race and racism. The goal is to amass a variety of alternative messages members might use in personal or professional situations. The discussion format will be very specific. After reading the monthly book, members will post threads that describe a negative stereotype or belief about Blacks; then share insights from the book that might be used as a counterpoint to that stereotype or belief. This Group is about members sharing what they learned and how it might be used to combat negativity about Blacks. It will be a safe space for posting these messages; without fear of challenges to chosen stereotypes, beliefs, or counterpoints. We will be a group of member learners. This Group is not about debating book merits, conclusions, or topics. If you want to debate the content about books on race or racism, this Group IS NOT for you. I know you will help me become more knowledgeable and articulate about the Black experience. Barbara Moderator

[close] A group for donors, receivers, swappers, reviewers and supporters of the Little Free Library, Donisthorpe.

[close] For those asking “Why would they say that?” or “How can they think that?”, this is a group where these are not rhetorical questions. We really want to know - whatever your perspective. In this era of social media, I see less of a propensity for critical thinking and learning and more of a drive to shout and turn a deaf ear. We weather socio-economic, racial, religious, political, and other storms with routine frustration and too-often rigorous animosity and slanderous debate. 2020 appears to be one of these storms in our history and developing identity. In this group, we seek to understand. We listen. We think critically and question. Regardless of your position or thoughts on a particular issue, we can all discuss these things through an avenue of books.