Sponsored by The Yield from HarperVia Books
A celebration of language and an exploration of what makes a place “home.” A young Australian woman searches for her grandfather’s dictionary, the key to halting a mining company from destroying her family’s home and ancestral land. The Yield is a story of a people and a culture dispossessed, and a joyful reminder of what once was and what endures—a powerful reclaiming of Indigenous language, storytelling, and identity, that offers hope for the future.
“A beautifully written novel that puts language at the heart of remembering the past and understanding the present.”—Kate Morton
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
Black lives matter.
To the club.
No nibbles & sips today. Stay healthy and try to carve out time to take care of your bodies and minds.
Antiracist Lit
Today’s newsletter is completely dedicated to antiracist literature. I want all book clubs to take the time to read at least one book on the subject, and I do mean all book clubs. I don’t care if you consider yourselves progressive, liberal, if you have Black Lives Matter signs on your lawns. We all have something (read: lots) more to learn, teach, or both.
I’m highlighting the three books that I have on my immediate TBR pile. Start here, but please don’t stop.
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi – This is the title you’re probably seeing recommended a ton right now, along with a call to not only not be racist, but to be anti-racist. That is precisely what it boils down to; passivity won’t cut it, activism is essential. Educate yourself on what antiracism looks like and what meaningful action can achieve. Side note: Ibram X. Kendi authored that wonderful Antiracist Reading List in the New York Times that I’ll link in Suggestion Section.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall – I’ve talked about this one a few times and I am the most not sorry. I’ve been thinking a lot about it in the context of the Women’s March; Black women show up for literally everybody; do we show u for them? Feminism must be intersectional. Period. The sort of prettily photographed stuff you so often see in your Instagram feed leaves Black women behind, concerning itself not with basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. If your approach to feminism ain’t inclusive, it’s trash.
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad – The idea behind this book began as an online call for accountability. In 2018, Layla Saad hosted a free month-long Instagram campaign wherein she asked folks to share the ways in which they, knowingly or not, had upheld white supremacy. She expected resistance and reluctance and was blown away instead by a worldwide outpouring of self-examination and admission. That then turned into a workbook which eventually lead to the book, a manual for understanding white privilege and participation in white supremacy so that we might stop stop our harmful actions against BIPOC and help others do the same. This right here: essential.
Suggestion Section: Reading Lists + Black-Owned Bookshops
Lists – Many of these lists contain overlapping titles—and good, because they’re important ones. I hope you will take the time to read and discuss thoughtfully, uncomfortably, urgently.
- Book Riot: 35 Must-Read Books About Racism
- The New York Times: An Antiracist Reading List (yes, it’s behind a paywall if you’ve maxed out your free views of the NYT, but I couldn’t leave it out of this mix)
- Esquire: If You Want to Learn About Anti-Racism, These 10 Books Are a Start
- BuzzFeed: An Essential Reading Guide For Fighting Racism
- Libro.fm: How to Be an Antiracist: Audiobook Picks
- Bookshop.org: Antiracist Reading List – a fantastic list + easy way to support indie bookstores
- Newsweek: Books About Race That Everyone Should Be Reading Right Now
Support Black-Owned Bookstores – I’m giving you locations so you know where they are, but support now through online ordering. You may find some popular titles are backordered (a sign of hope?); if you run into this issue, consider purchasing other titles, or support an Indie with an audiobook purchase or membership from Libro.fm.
The Lit. Bar in The Bronx, NY – Noelle and her team even made it easy for you with a Dear White People reading list.
Loyalty Bookstores in Petworth, DC and downtown Silver Springs, MD – While you’re there, check out their events page; upcoming events include Date Night with Alyssa Cole and discussions for the Agatha Christie + Sherry, Too Lit to Quit, and Antiracist book clubs.
Mahogany Books in Washington, DC – The book bundles under Featured Products on the main page are chef’s kiss!
Marcus Books in Oakland, CA is the oldest independent black bookstore in the country! They were forced into temporary closure due to COVID-19 (and by that I mean closed altogether, even for online ordering), so I’ve linked to their GoFundMe page. I’m seeing tons of donations pouring in with BLM hashtags! Donating as soon as I wrap up this newsletter.
Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis, MN – Come for the pizza-eating, wine-drinking sloth on their main page, stay for their call to action.
Semicolon Bookstore in Chicago, IL – Consider supporting their now ongoing #CleartheShelves campaign to provide free books to Chicago kids!
Uncle Bobbie’s in Philadelphia, PA – There are lots of antiracist reads to choose from on their online order page.
For more Black-owned shops, please see this Twitter thread from Third Place Books.
Thanks for hanging with me today! Shoot me an email at vanessa@riotnewmedia.com with your burning book club questions or find me on Twitter and the gram @buenosdiazsd. Sign up for the Audiobooks newsletter, catch me once a month on the All the Books podcast, and watch me ramble about even more new books every Tuesday on our YouTube channel.
Stay bad & bookish, my friends.
Vanessa