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Antiracism Reading Group
His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope
In this reading group session, we'll be discussing Jon Meacham's biography of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. Drawing on decades of wide-ranging interviews with Lewis, Meacham writes of how this great-grandson of a slave and son of an Alabama tenant farmer was inspired by the Bible and his teachers in nonviolence, Reverend James Lawson and Martin Luther King, Jr., to put his life on the line in the service of what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”
by Jon Meacham
7-8:30pm, Tuesday, January 12, 2020
While a modicum of structure will be provided, expect a fairly informal and free-flowing discussion of this book. Our assumption is that participants will have a copy of the selected text and will have read it (or at least most of it.) But don't let this stop you from joining in and listening to our discussion!
The book is widely available online in a variety of formats, as well as locally at Parnassus and Barnes & Noble. Please reach out if you have any trouble locating or purchasing a copy.
Upcoming Books on Our Anti-Racism Reading List
(In No Particular Order)
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Past Books and Resources
Fatal Invention, by Dorothy Roberts
This book examines how the myth of the biological concept of race—revived by purportedly cutting-edge science, race-specific drugs, genetic testing, and DNA databases—continues to undermine a just society and promote inequality in a supposedly “post-racial” era.
The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin
Baldwin is widely considered to be one of the most eloquent and passionate essayists from the United States. This collection of two essays discusses the centrality of race in the United States, as well as the relationship between racial identity and religion.
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
by Richard Rothstein
This book chronicles the U.S. government's history of residential segregation, demonstrating that racism is rooted not primarily in personal prejudice but in racist laws and policies.- Book Guide and Other Resources
- Richard Rothstein on NPR
- The Nashville Scene Chronicles This History in Action
- "Segrated by Design" - This video makes Rothstein's point.
Segregated By Design from Silkworm on Vimeo.
- Facing North: Jefferson Street, Nashville, an Nashville Public Television original documentary, explores the untold stories of a Nashville community struggling to preserve its vibrant African American culture.
How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
This book provides a solid and important foundation for further discussions of racism, white supremacy, and racial justice.