Kingston Reads!

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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

If you live, work, play, or pray in Kingston, please join us for the first Kingston Reads, this July!

The first Kingston Reads was originally scheduled to take place just as the pandemic hit. But we can't wait any longer. The time is now for the white members of our community to consciously educate ourselves about understanding how systemic racism harms our black and brown neighbors, friends, co-workers and family members. Understanding our own biases, as well as the devastation caused by structural racism, will help us to become better allies in the fight for Black Lives Matter.

What is Kingston Reads?
This initiative encourages all members of the Kingston Community to read the same book, and to gather for discussions about the topics within. Kingston Reads is spearheaded by members of the Kingston City School District, who have selected So You Want to Talk About Race—a hard-hitting but user-friendly examination of race in America—as our first book.

About the book:

Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy—from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans—has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it is a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair--and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend? 
In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life. Salon called the book “generous and empathetic, yet usefully blunt . . . it's for anyone who wants to be smarter and more empathetic about matters of race and engage in more productive anti-racist action."

How to join us: So You Want to Talk About Race is available at Rough Draft on a rolling basis; new copies are coming in every few days, and we’re distributing them in the order they are requested. Ask at the counter or fill out this form to reserve a copy. The book is being offered at a 10% discount, and community members are also welcome to ask if there are any “pay it forward” (free) copies available. Curbside pickup and free delivery (12401 Zip code) are also available through July 1 for those who can't make it into the store.

Local organizations wishing to purchase multiple copies for their own members or staff, please contact us for pricing. The audiobook is also available to purchase through Libro.fm, an affiliate partner of Rough Draft, and a limited number of loaner copies of the book are available in the lobby of the Kingston YMCA. (Please return when finished!) You can also tune into Radio Kingston (1490 AM 107.9 FM or streaming at radiokingston.org) Monday through Friday at 6 pm to listen to a chapter each night, starting June 22. (**THIS AIRING IS NOW COMPLETE. THANKS FOR LISTENING! **) Audiobook airing is courtesy of Blackstone Audio, narrator Bahni Turpin, and author Ijeoma Oluo.

So you want to talk about the book?

Please join us for three (virtual) conversations.

We'd like to remind our participants that we won't be able to get to all the questions in our discussion pages during our one-hour community discussion, but we encourage folks to use any and all for your own book studies.

Conversations will be held via Zoom, with a link shared closer to the date. (REGISTER FOR THE JULY 30 SESSION HERE.) On each night, we'll discuss a third of the book. You can also stay connected between conversations on the event’s official Facebook page.

Participants are encouraged to submit any questions/comments/concerns in advance (or during the discussion) to the facilitators at kingstonreadsaboutrace@gmail.com. People are also encouraged to use this list of resources for further reading, listening, and learning.

We encourage businesses and community and religious groups to read the book and hold your own conversations! Please feel free to use our discussion questions or create your own.