Join our book club!
Since 2021, book club has been an excellent way for students and employees alike to engage in meaningful educational opportunities and discussions by taking part in our supportive and safe book club setting. We commit to reading, reflecting and discussing books together on such topics and areas of unlearning as race and racism, disability and accessibility, gender diversity and class. In partnership with the Residence Life Office, we have started to grow our small equity library on campus and encourage folks to inquire about these important reads below.
Book club happens every semester and is usually divided into 4-5 weekly discussions to allow for ease of reading and absorption of the information. To join or stay up to date on book club information, send Polly an email by contacting equity@acadiau.ca with your expressed interest.
Books for the 2023/24 Academic term discussions
More information on the books we will be reading for book club will be updated once we confirm the titles of each semester鈥檚 books.
Trans Like Me, Conversations for all of us 鈥� CN Lester
Starting on Thursday November 9th, join us for our 4-week virtual book club on Trans Like Me, written by CN Lester, happening every Thursday from 12:00PM 鈥� 1:30PM AST.
Trans Like Me, Conversations for all of us is breaking down myths, uncovering our histories, and building our futures through a collection of essays exploring trans lives and possibilities. Combining academic research with a conversational approach, Trans Like Me has been recommended as one of three essential reads on trans rights by The New York Times, and is available worldwide in paperback, e-book, and audio. You can read more about the author by ! Book club will be taking place over Microsoft Teams. Reach out if you have questions about the book or about our discussions!
Books We've Read
Read this to get smarter about race, class, gender, disability & more 鈥� Blair Imani
Accessible to learners of all levels鈥攆rom those just getting started on the journey to those already versed in social justice鈥� covers a range of topics, including race, gender, class, disability, relationships, family, power dynamics, oppression, and beyond. This essential guide is a radical but warm and non-judgmental call to arms, structured in such a way that you can read it cover to cover or start with any topic you want to learn more about.
鈥淏lair answers the questions that so many of us are asking.鈥� 鈥� Layla F. Saad, author of Me and White Supremacy
me and white supremacy, Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor 鈥� Layla F. Saad
leads readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on Black, Indigenous and people of colour, and in turn, help other white people do better, too. The book goes beyond the original workbook by adding more historical and cultural contexts, sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and includes expanded definitions, examples, and further resources.
#BlackInSchool 鈥� Habiba Cooper Diallo
is Habiba Cooper Diallo鈥檚 high school journal, in which she documents, processes, and resists the systemic racism, microaggressions, stereotypes, and outright racism she experienced while being Black in school in Canada, in Halifax.
Powerful and eye-opening, Cooper Diallo illustrates how our schools reinforce rather than erode racism: the handcuffing and frisking of students of colour by police at school; one-dimensional, tokenistic curricula portraying Black people; and the constant barrage of overt racism from students and staff alike. She shows how systemic racism works, how it alienates and seeks to destroys a child鈥檚 sense of self. She shows how our institutions work to erase the lived experiences of Black youth and try to erase Black youth themselves.
Cooper Diallo鈥檚 words will resonate with some, but should shock, appall, and animate a great many more into action towards a society that is truly equitable for all.
We want to hear from you!
We are always looking for books to read for book club and more ways we can support the campus community鈥檚 growth and unlearning journey. If you have any suggestions on what we should be reading, watching, or discussing we want to hear from you! Send Polly an email by contacting equity@acadiau.ca with suggestions you have or let us know if you are interested in hearing about book club, we would be happy to add you to our email list.
More Equity Engagements on Campus
#BLACKINSCHOOL - THE BLACK BODY AND THE CANADIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH AUTHOR HABIBA COOPER DIALLO
March 22, 2023 (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
On Wednesday March 22nd, we will be holding a virtual event around the themes found in the book #BlackInSchool written by author Habiba Cooper Diallo. #BlackInSchool is a published copy of Habiba's experience as a black student in the Canadian education system. This book is a published copy of Habiba's grade 11 and 12 Halifax High School journal where Habiba writes about the harms done to the black body through microaggressions and systemic racism during her time as a student in high school. This virtual opportunity to meet Habiba and engage in meaningful conversation around the Canadian education system and the harms it has on the Black body is open to all Acadia students and staff. The intention of the event is to engage in meaningful conversation around the experience of the black body in education and hold a safe space for folks in the Acadia community to ask questions and share their experiences. This is a virtual event and will be taking place over Microsoft Teams! To join, email Polly, equity@acadiau.ca, or Brent, brent.legrow@acadiau.ca, and one of them will add you to the Teams Calendar event.
Hosted by: The Office of the Vice-Provost Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, The Equity Office and, Residence Life and Student Life
- To introduce yourself to the book, .
- To learn about why Habiba wrote the book, .
- that Habiba wrote on the murder of George Floyd and systemic racism.
Watch the live recording here (Acadia login required):
There鈥檚 Something in the Water Film Screening and Book Giveaway
On Thursday February 16th, join Acadia Student Life in watching the Nova Scotia based film on environmental racism, There's Something In The Water. Directed by Elliott Page and Ian Daniel, this film is based off of the book written by Dr. Ingrid Waldron on the the injustices and injuries caused by environmental racism in Nova Scotia in Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities. The screening will start at 6:00PM and will be held in the Vaughn Memorial Library Quiet Reading Room.
We will also be giving out two copies of the book! Simply show up, sign your name on our registration page with your contact information, and we will draw the two winners that night following the event. Open to all students, employees and Acadia Alumni.
Polly Leonard - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer
Show Up, Your Guide to Bystander Intervention (PDF)
Join our book club!
Gender Inclusive Washrooms
Contact
Polly Leonard, MSW RSW (she/her/hers)
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer
, Room 103
私人影院
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6
equity@acadiau.ca
t. 902.585.1298
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