Starting a book club is so much easier than you may think and if youve been toying with the idea, im hoping this will give you the courage to go for it. The project clearly reflects the mission ronke has begun with her library. After you meet a couple of times, you can grow the club at your own pace. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Find out whats happening in african american book club meetup groups around the world and start meeting up with. When prospective members contact you for more information, explain the purpose of the book club and the number of members youre looking for. From puritan biblestudy groups to parisian salons, there are many forerunners to the contemporary womens book club. Wctu founded in 1874 largest womens organization in the late 19th century attracted both black and white club women alcohol a symbol of male power linked to domestic violence womens economic vulnerability saloons drew men from the home antiimmigrant strain to the temperance movement. If you are starting a book club yourself, you may need some ideas for creating a fun group that people will come back to time after time. From black science fiction, to historical dramas to biographies, we have books of all genres and styles to interest various readers. Find over 14 african american book club groups with 3986 members near you and.
Mocha girls read we are a group of black women who love to. Discover a book club in our database of african american book clubs in the united states. Since launching in 2015, wrbg has steadily grown into a thriving online community of 237k passionate instagram followers. Add your book club to our website a complete list of book clubs in our database.
There may be a meeting room at your church your pastor. Often youll at least recruit some help in completing the rest of the steps. Both black and white women were involved in creating the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp in 1909 and were often involved in much of the organizations local work. Apr 02, 2020 welcome to mocha girls read book club.
Wellread black girl is a book club exclusively for black women. Interview them briefly about the types of books they like to read, and. In fact, black women, in particular, have been part of book clubs for centuries and still make up a large demographic of book club memberships. A mighty girl book clubs provide girls with tremendous educational, social, and selfesteemboosting benefits and parentchild book clubs also provide great bonding opportunities. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. How to start a christian book club pen and the pad. Jan 15, 2020 12 great novels you and your book club will love reading. That is why the black lives matter hashtag is so powerful and the three women who run it are black, feminist, queer women. Womens education, selfculture, and the 19thcentury womens club. Meet the book club who is inspiring black women to read again. Perhaps most significant among these predecessors are the womens clubs of the late19th century. Successful groups select good books, have interesting discussions, and foster community. Aug 12, 2015 womens education, selfculture, and the 19thcentury womens club.
But there is more to starting a book club than you might think. Our monthly book club selections focus on empowering the narratives of black women, we encourage readers who identify as genderqueer, nonbinary, or others. Here are some of the best books to read with your book club. There are a lot of good books out there but what would be best for your next read. Find over 1270 women s book club groups with 383072 members near you and meet people in your local community who share your interests. Join them for conversations about race, gender and pop culture, as well as a variety of silly segments, rapidfire question rounds, snacks, drinks, and a host of special guests. Discussions are held on the books description page, where it says join the discussion see image below. Ladies of literature black womens book club atlanta. There may be a meeting room at your church your pastor will let you use.
These 8 popular book clubs show just how much blackled. Wrbg provides a vital space for black women readers and writers to connect and grow in conversation. Get together a core group it is much easier to start a book club with two or three people who already have some connection. If you and several friends are already interested in forming a book club, congratulations. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Books with a noncaucasian person as theone of the lead characters. Many book clubs start when a few friends get together and decide that theyd like to meet to discuss books on a regular basis. Sometimes you might find enough people to start a book club right away. Some wine, friends new and old, a cheese plater, and often times, a good book. Womens groups and the rise of the book club jstor daily.
Each month, theyll choose a book or essay written by, for, or about women of color and use it as a framework to discuss their own lives as young black women. Women photographers of the african diaspora, a crowdfunded photography book celebrating various iterations of black womanhood. Not only did i enjoy the book, but i was entertained by spicy quotes from famous works like candide and the decameron. In less than three years, black girls book club has grown from a brunch where women of colour gathered to chat books over mimosas into mammoth events. Its not important for everyone to know one another. Creating the worlds most wellreceived book club was, in the beginning, just a lark. Discussion forums on black literature, culture, and more.
Our monthly book club selections focus on empowering the narratives of black women, we encourage readers who identify as genderqueer, nonbinary, or others who feel inspired by what were doing to join us and be a part of our community. Zoom reading time reading apart together every monday during lockdown pst. Alice went from opening mail to becoming my assistant. You know, we can talk about us black women as writers and artists and filmmakers and creatives and all these different things, ronke told the. Jun 25, 2018 in the 1940s, a group of 16 black women were sick of being turned away at the doors of various hot spots in kansas city, mo. Saw a girl fine like mariah cary in the library and knock over a pile of books she smile and shook h. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Top 12 must read books by black authors for 2019 black.
Wellread black girl wrbg is a book club turned literary festival based in brooklyn, ny. To help you make sure your book club is on point, here is a short guide about how to start a book club to help you make yours perfect. Predominantly comprised of white women from the middle. Im hoping to show that other girls can do this as well, dias told. We are here to inspire women to read, share literature, fellowship, and encourage others in the joy of reading. African american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club books authors. Start by planning where youd like to hold meetings. How to start a womens social club our everyday life. My current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so. Books young black women needs to read in order to slay. As you read each novel, jot down page numbers and passages that moved you and where you found answers to the oprah. This is a book club for black women interested in reading and discussing books written by black women including but not limited to american, caribbean, african, and european authors. The women in the erotica book club for nice ladies captivated me in this richly woven tale of mystery, erotica, and ancient herbs. A terrific book because its tailored specifically for women, and addresses specific issues women have in negotiating.
Robinson in 2012, a study reported that 50 percent of black women were sexually assaulted, raped, or molested by black men by the time they reached age 18. One young girl is proving that you have to be the change in the world that you want to see. By 1900, almost every black community had a womens club. Ask around the office, playgroups, your church, or civic organizations.
Starting a womens club takes dedication, organization, and a passion for uplifting and empowering people. The club movement for black women in the 1890s began to focus on social and political reform and were more secular. Looking for a fun way to enjoy books and meet new people. Guest facilitators will include business women from the doylestown and bucks county community. January 15, 2019 books black authors books, black book club, black women book club, toronto black women book club admin we have an exciting reading list for 2019. Mocha girls read is a book club for black women who love to read, want to read more and meet likeminded women. Jan 09, 2019 creating the worlds most wellreceived book club was, in the beginning, just a lark. Thus, if you want to start a group a great place to begin can be with your friends but dont assume that they share your expectations about the sort of books to read or how the club will run. Times innovators award for her book club turned festival gathers an allstar cast of contributorsamong them lynn nottage, jesmyn ward, and gabourey sidibeto pay tribute to literature by, for, and about black women.
Thanks to a fastpaced world of iphones, facebook and online news, it may have been a minute. Having discussion questions before your book club meets will help facilitate a good discussion of your book. Authors hoping for free exposure must work to get on the radar of a more traditional book club like go on girl. Eventually, they began pooling enough funds to reserve more extravagant. A list of african american book clubs in the united states. Jun 06, 2015 11 stellar book club picks for your next all women s gathering. A list of african american book clubs in the united states sorted by. The africanamerican guide to healing from sexual assault and abuse by lori s. Black women had to face the same issues as white women during this period, but were often excluded from services and help that benefited whites only. May 27, 2015 whens the last time you got lost in a really good book. Womens social clubs have been around for generations as pillars of the community and a way for women to mingle. We will read classic works of the past and present, and will help each other identify talented new writers of the future. How to start a book club that doesnt suck book riot.
Even if you do not put a limit on the gender, book clubs tend to be predominantly composed of females, so you may find yourself being part of an allfemale book. We must address the fact that sexual violence affects black girls and women at disproportionately high numbers. Mocha girls read we are a group of black women who love. If youre interested in forming a mighty girl book club or would like to learn more about them, this is the place for you. The authors also pull in wisdom from really great books on negotiation in general, like ury and fishers terrific book, getting to yes, and explain the information theyre quoting as it relates to the approach and.
Young black girl starts her own book club because representation matters. Teen sisters write book urging young girls of color to celebrate their hair. Nominated for an naacp image award an inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club wellread black girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature. Mar 04, 2020 in less than three years, black girls book club has grown from a brunch where women of colour gathered to chat books over mimosas into mammoth events. It started because of alice mcgee, who was working as an intern the day i auditioned for am chicago, labor day 1983. I started this group to bring together people who love to read and who want to build a community focused on discovering, discussing, and celebrating the.
How oprahs book club began, according to oprah winfrey. It is also important to consider the networks, resources, and funds needed to maintain an organization. Consider the size of the space where youll be meeting. The author skillfully wove together disparate elements into an intriguing story. These inspirational books for women by women will give you all the motivation you need to get out there and start leading the life you want to live. Mar 25, 2020 these inspirational books for women by women will give you all the motivation you need to get out there and start leading the life you want to live. This anthology is the black womens book club you always wanted.
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