Sponsored by the unforgettable novel SHAPED BY THE WAVES from Christina Suzann Nelson. Available where books and ebooks are sold.
Cassie George has stayed away from her small hometown ever since her unplanned pregnancy. But when she hears that her aunt suffered a stroke and has been hiding a Parkinson’s diagnosis, she must return. Greeted by a mysterious package, Cassie will discover that who she thought she was, and who she wants to become, are all about to change.
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed.
I never thought I’d ever experienced a Black History month where people were actively trying to undo it while it was going on. But apparently the 2020s are full of terrible surprises and here we are. How is a student group (meaning the students named themselves) called “Black and Proud” getting censored during Black history month? Are they going to censor Queer Pride during Pride month, too? I’m wondering how far and how long this is going to go before more of the general public starts protesting or we are thrown into the Middle Ages 2.0
This was entirely foreseeable if you’ve been following the extensive censorship coverage that we’ve been doing over here at Book Riot. And listen, as much as I want teachers to say eff the man and still teach these things, their jobs could very well be in danger. The Florida education commissioner, Richard Corcoran, recently said this:
“I’ve censored or fired or terminated numerous teachers,” he said. “There was an entire classroom memorialized to Black Lives Matter and we made sure she was terminated.”
The nerve. It’s quotes like these that make it seem like books like Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 are nonfiction.
So, let’s get to the club and undo some of this willful unlearning of history!
Nibbles and Sips
I know I mentioned sweet potato pie last week, but have you ever had— or even heard of— sweet potato biscuits?? Me neither, but I know I need them ASAP. These have the added perk of being vegan if you’re on the look out for that, but even if you’re not vegan, I know in my heart you’ll love these. I’ve been following Sweet Potato Soul on YouTube for years and she never disappoints.
Now for the books!
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
The Fight to Learn Our History Continues On
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne
What a life! Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little in 1925, went from being the son of a preacher to a petty criminal to being a civil rights icon. Les Payne started writing this biography in the ’90s with the intention of painting an accurate picture of X that dispelled all the myths that seem to attach themselves to Black American leaders. The result is this tome, which follows X from his birth to his assassination in 1965. It shows how he was a bookish kid, set up a meeting with the KKK, and even how his death might have been connected to the CIA and FBI.
Book Club Bonus: Discuss what shocked you about Malcolm X’s life? How different is what you learned in this book from what you previously knew about him?
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective, Edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
The Combahee River Collective was a group of Black feminist socialists that met in Boston in the mid ’70s. Their primary focus was to advocate for the rights of Black women (especially queer Black women), whose needs were not being met by the Civil Rights movement or the feminist movement because of what would later be called “intersectionality,” or the amplifying of marginalizing factors that work against the individual. This book has the organization’s major text, The Combahee River Collective Statement, interviews with founding members as well as more contemporary Black activist leaders. The focus of the book is the state of Black activism and Black feminism/womanism today compared to how it was when the Collective was first started, as well as capitalism’s role in all of this
Book Club Bonus: Discuss how do the white patriarchy and capitalism complement each other. Is it possible to have one and not the other? Specifically, is it possible to still have capitalism after having done away with sexism, racism, and classism?
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall, Hugo Martinez (Illustrator)
Ever wondered where the women were during slave revolts? Rebecca Hall did, too. Here, she shows just how involved Black women were in rebelling against enslavement, often participating in and even leading revolts. Through research, Hall fleshes out the stories of these warrior women alongside her own story of fighting the system as a tenant rights attorney. The beautiful black and white illustrations really strengthen the text.
Book Club Bonus: There are two revolts led by women that took place in New York City that are shown here. Discuss misconceptions this graphic novel does away with concerning how the South vs. the North are perceived in terms of each region’s handling of slavery and the overall treatment of Black people.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Suggestion Section
Here’s a light-hearted quiz for people who want a book recommendation based on discount Valentine candy
Jenna Bush Hager has a production deal for her book club
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman revealed the title and cover of her new book on Donald Trump
Here are some tips on starting your own teen book club
The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck is Oprah’s new book club pick
I hope this newsletter found you well, and as always, thanks for hanging out! If you have any comments or just want to connect, send an email to erica@riotnewmedia.com or holla at me on Twitter @erica_eze_ . You can also catch me talking more mess in the new In Reading Color newsletter as well as chattin’ with my new cohost Tirzah Price on the Hey YA podcast.
Until next time,
-E