Dear Campus Community,
I am pleased to announce that UA Little Rock is launching its first campus-wide book read on the topic of race and ethnicity this fall.
Last month I invited the campus community to recommend a book that we might consider for this initiative. We had a lot of interest and a lot of great suggestions. I asked the Diversity Council to weigh in on the book list, and between the campus response and the Diversity Council vote, the top recommendation is:
So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
To get this discussion going, I invite you to sign up to participate in a Campus Read discussion group. Each group will meet virtually twice per month through May to discuss this book. We will have other events that tie into this book discussion that will be announced at a later date.
The first 100 books will be provided free of charge. Once you’ve signed up for our Campus Read discussion group, you will be sent instructions for picking up your copy.
Since there are so many excellent books on this topic this year, I want to also provide an opportunity for campus community members to form additional reading groups for our number two and three top selections. If you are interested in either of the books listed below, there is a place to indicate that on the form, and we will then be in touch with details.
Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Thank you all for your enthusiastic interest in our Campus Read on Race and Ethnicity. I look forward to the conversations!
The full list of all books that were recommended for this initiative are now available.
Sincerely,
Christina S. Drale, Chancellor