Black Lives Matter. A Reading List.

"There is a great deal of unrest after the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. As a white person, I am aware of the significant privilege I have and I am constantly trying to educate myself in ways to improve racial equality. There are no quick and easy answers on this front. I believe we must put in the work to understand the disparity. Some of the ways I do that are by reading books such as 'They Hate U Give’ by Angie Thomas or by reading books to my children with diverse characters. I am not perfect, but I am trying, and if you’re in a position of privilege and not sure where to start, I would encourage you to try these things too.” - official statement posted by Marquette, Michigan Mayor Jenna Smith after Saturday’s protests.

“I’m proud of our citizens who are willing to stand up for what they believe in.”

As a safe and welcoming community gathering place, we continue to support BIPOC in our communities.

We have compiled an anti-racist reading list.

Looking where to begin, here’s a start...

Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad

How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

White Rage by Carol Anderson

The Fire this Time by Jeanne Ward

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Works by Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Novels by two-time Pulitzer-Prize winner Colson Whitehead: The Nickel Boys (2020) and The Underground Railroad (2017).

And many, many more. 

Read, learn, listen, act.