Salem Antiracist Summer Book Reading Discussion Groups

SALEM, MA — A series of public discussions groups will be held later month as part of the Salem Reading for Change 2021 antiracist summer book program.

The Salem High School Student Equity Interns put together a summer reading list that school officials hoped the entire city would embrace as the district looks to combat social injustice and promote diversity. The "Reading For Change: Antiracist Summer Reading 2021" program included
three titles the students chose with all students in the district asked to read at least one of the books.

Residents were asked to participate in the program as well through reading the books and being part of the discussion groups.

"These are important texts," Superintendent of Schools Steve Zrike said. "They are really rich and will help generate the kinds of conversations we need to have both as a city, as a school system and certainly as a country that is grappling over issues of race, and privilege, and class in our society."

The chosen titles were: "Stamped" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi – a non-fiction book about the course of racism in America, "Punching The Air" by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam – a novel about a wrongly incarcerated youth, and "I Was Their American Dream" by Malaka Gharib – a graphic memoir of a first-generation Filipino-Egyptian-American living in California.

The review of "I Was Their American Dream" is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Common with Amanda Campbell and Kate Carbone leading the discussion.

The review of "Punching The Air" is scheduled for Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Common with Kristin Pangallo and Adam Colantouni leading the discussion.

The review of "Stamped" is scheduled for Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. on the lawn behind the Derby House on Derby Street with Zrike and Ana Nuncio leading the discussion.

"We are hosting community discussion groups to learn about, grapple with, and discuss the history of racism and contemporary issues of race in America, anchored by this essential question:

"'How do we make a safe, welcoming community for all?'"

Go here for more information on the program.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)