A recent New York Times article claims Black Lives Matter may be the largest social movement in U.S. history. Polls from June estimated that 15 million people had protested against police brutality, demanding justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans.

Locally, Black Lives Matter protesters have taken to the streets in Mystic, Groton, Stonington, Westerly, Ledyard, and New London to advocate for change and to raise consciousness.

People’s reading interests have reflected this public reckoning with racism. Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be An Antiracist” has been on the New York Times’ best sellers list for 23 weeks. At the same time, requests for holds on library books about the history of racism have abounded.

Those readers “who understand that the toxicity of racism must be confronted” may find a place to do so via a new book club beginning on Sept. 14 from 6-8 p.m. The group will meet monthly via the Mystic and Noank Library’s Zoom account.

St. Mark Episcopal Church’s Anti-Racism Team has restarted its “intentional” book club, Mystic Conversations on Race (MyCOR), in response to the topics raised by the summer’s protests.

Rather than educating alone, the organizers “intend that our reading, discussion, and reflection will lead to personal change and broader action.” They will do so by reading and reflecting upon texts, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as documentaries, podcasts, and other media.

Participants will read “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander to discuss for their first meeting.

You can find more information about how to register for Mystic Conversations on Race by calling the library at (860) 536-7721. or visiting the events calendar on our website.

Please feel free to reach out to reference@mysticnoanklibrary.org to request related books, articles, or other resources. We are always standing by to help you find the information you need.

Erik Caswell is the adult services librarian at Mystic and Noank Library.