The Brave Space Book Club (BSBC) is an intimate forum to discuss fiction and nonfiction books we’re curious about reading—a space to have open and frank conversations about books that broaden our knowledge of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). We are in a moment when many people wish to read more, learn more, and understand more about each other. If you are open to reading this subject matter and exploring how to talk to each other about it in an inclusive environment—please join us! Click this link to sign up! https://tinyurl.com/y22skk5r

This book club is informal, sometimes personal, and demands what we call a “fun quotient.” However, the subject matter may be intense, emotional, controversial, or difficult to unpack, so we will follow Beloved Community Conversation Guidelines (below) and a “no one speaks twice until everyone speaks once” flow, to ensure that everyone is heard and that everyone can speak their mind in a respectful space.

The Brave Space Book Club sessions meet monthly, on the last Monday and Wednesday of the month, for a 90-minute Zoom chat meeting. You will be assigned to a Monday or Wednesday session based upon your availability and other factors. In the spirit of confidence and honest discourse, Zoom chats will not be recorded. Here is the list of new books and dates for the books club:

October 26, 28: Conjure Women by Afia Atakora (historical fiction)
November 23 & 25: Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
January 25 & 27: How To Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi
Feb 22 & 24: If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
March 29 & 31: Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
April 26 & 28: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
May 24 & 26: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
June 28 & 30: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindedness by Michelle Alexander
July 26 & 28: Beauty is a Verb: The New Poetry of Disability --editors Sheila Black, Jennifer Bartlett, and Michael Northern
August 23 & 25: So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
September 27 & 29: The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
October 25 & 27: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

The book club will decide collectively what books to read thereafter.

We’ll talk about the book of the month, unpack the major themes, share our personal reactions and questions, ponder the meaning and implications for the world around us. From time to time, we hope to have some guest authors join us to talk about their books. BSBC is co-hosted by Titi Ngwenya and Deborah Hunter Jones. They will keep you informed about the upcoming book club meetings and send out advance questions to spark new thinking and conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What books will we read?

We’ve picked the first four books to get us started, but really we want folks in the book club to tell us what books are on their wishlist.

How many people are in the book club?

We’re looking for a diverse group of about 7 - 10 people. We figure seven people is about the right size to have a robust conversation during a single book club meeting.

Is there a cost to join the BSBC?

Yes, there is a nonrefundable registration fee of $5 per book club meeting. Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.

What do I do to prepare for the book club?

#1, read the book! We realize that our busy work and family lives may prevent you from finishing the book in time for the book club meeting, and on occasion we may actually need two meetings to discuss a particular book. We ask that you do your best to complete the book before each meeting, so we can all enjoy a robust conversation and shared experience.

Do I have to attend every session and read every book?

No. You can sign up for as many individual club meetings as you like. You don’t have to commit to all of the meetings. We would love to see you at every book club; however, we realize that not everyone will be interested in exploring the same books at the same time. Maybe you already read the book? Maybe you have a prior commitment that prevents you from attending on a specific day?

In the interest of building a diverse book group, we will ask you for your race/ethnicity (optional), and we will not disclose that information to anyone. We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the book club if they exhibit unlawful or disrespectful behavior towards anyone else in the group.

Please click the link below to read the Beloved Community Conversation Guidelines. You cannot register for the book club without agreeing to follow the guidelines. Thank you.

Beloved Community Conversation Guidelines