Inclusion Book Club
Inclusion Book Club
Meets: We meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7pm via Zoom, with a summer break (May - August).
Status: open to church members & friends
Facilitator: Lisa Gades and Kimberly Harrison.
Contact: Email office@uusg.org.
UUSG's Inclusion Book Club is a monthly exploration of the many facets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our goal is to be one way of seeking out voices of people belonging to groups that have been marginalized. As we learn about the experiences and perspectives of others, we may learn new ways of being more inclusive and truly welcoming to a broader community. This is a fantastic first step for those just starting the journey as well as a great refresher for those who have been “doing the work” for years. No prerequisite required – just a willingness to read and to listen.
If you'd like to be added to the email list to receive the Zoom Meeting Link, please email office@uusg.org.
Next Meeting date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 7pm on Zoom. Our Book, “Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship,” by Gregory Boyle.
Past Books:
Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration by Reuben Jonathan Miller.
Reuben Miller served as a chaplain in Cook County Jail and is now a sociologist studying mass incarceration. He shares stories from his own family, and others, to illustrate the painful experiences of formerly incarcerated Americans and their families as they struggle to reintegrate into society, while fighting a system that sets them up for failure.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
During the WWI era, hundreds of young women toiled in radium-dial factories. While their jobs were coveted by a nation fascinated with the glowing element of radium, these "shining girls" began to fall mysteriously ill. The women found themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights.
You'll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism, by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar
Amber Ruffin is a writer on Late Night with Seth Myers and host of The Amber Ruffin Show. Her sister, Lacey, lives in Nebraska, where she regularly encounters people who seem to have little experience with Black people. The two sisters team up to tell "entertainingly horrifying" stories of modern-day racism. The book is widely acclaimed for striking the perfect balance of "levity and gravity."
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Many of you have been concerned about the rise in discrimination and violence toward Asian Americans during COVID. This persecution is a new chapter in a long, historical pattern. Hong uses her personal story to delve into racial consciousness in America in this critically acclaimed book.
The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate (Second Edition) by Jeannie Gainsburg
The Savvy Ally is a vital resource for teachers, mental health professionals, healthcare providers, college professors, faith leaders, family members, and friends who want to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ people in their lives and help make the world a safer, more inclusive place. This informative, encouraging, and easy-to-understand guidebook will jump-start even the most tentative ally.
The End of Bias: A Beginning by Jessica Nordell
Jessica is a science journalist who delves into the science and psychology of unintentional bias and discrimination, examining what strategies work to address these issues. Here is a short, 3-minute introduction with Nordell introducing the book.
So, You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Ijeoma Oluo's book became a New York Times Bestseller after the murder of George Floyd, as people recognized the need to address systemic racism in America. To address racism, we first need to talk about it, something many of us find uncomfortable. Oluo is an excellent author, recognized for her straightforward approach in guiding people through conversations about microaggressions, police brutality, systemic racism vs. personal bias, and more. Goodreads link. 2-min introduction to the author. 8-min talk on race and racism.
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nielsen. The author casts new light on American history by sharing the experiences of people with disabilities and considering the role of ableism in shaping our democracy.
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus. A debut novel, this is the story of two black girls from very different backgrounds finding love and happiness in a world that seems determined to deny them both. A Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Kimmerer skillfully uses her perspectives as a botanist and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation to visualize a broader ecological consciousness, with plants and animals as our oldest teachers. (Interview/Podcast)
The Undocumented Americans, by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.
Villavicencio was one of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard. Shortly after the 2016 election, she set out to tell the stories of her fellow undocumented immigrants across the country, while more deeply understanding her own. (Interview/Podcast)
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall. Especially as we join in the uprising by women and their allies regarding reproductive rights, this is a perfect time to listen anew to the perspectives of BIPOC women who have historically felt left out of the feminist movement. From Goodreads: "Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues." A short interview of Mikki Kendall with Trevor Noah.
Caste: The Origin of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.
Wilkerson illuminates an unspoken caste system operating in America--one that cuts across race, class, and other factors. Hear an interview with Wilkerson on NPR's Fresh Air.
Redefining Realness: My Path To Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock.
Mock shares her experiences of growing up young, multiracial, poor, and trans. Her story encourages all of us to be more accepting and real.
Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly
Anger in women and girls has long been less acceptable than anger in men and boys. And yet, anger is also a powerful signal that something is wrong, and action needs to be taken. Chemaly's book is important for anyone raised to suppress their anger, who now seeks to use it as a catalyst for change. See Chemaly's TED Talk here.
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
Dunbar-Ortiz presents a history of the United States from the perspective of Indigenous peoples, highlighting our nation's colonialist policy. Not the history you learned in school.
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh.
By telling the story of her life, Smarsh brings America's class divide into sharp focus. She gives voice to the many hard-working people whose labor we take for granted and who deserve better.