In partnership with the YWCA Southwestern Illinois Racial Justice Committee, YWCA hosts community book talks that will feature books written by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. All are invited to participate in meetings to discuss the books and relevant social issues within our community. Discussions will be guided by
Nana Becoat, YWCA Racial Justice Committee Chair.
YWCA Racial Justice is pleased to invite the public to The Warmth of Other Suns Book Talks held at YWCA, 304 E. Third St., Alton, IL. Book Talks will be held on Tuesdays from 530 pm to 630 pm, September 13, October 11, November 8, January 10, February 21, March 14, April 11, May 9 and June 13. Nana Becoat, YW Racial Justice Committee Chair will be facilitating the discussions on The Warmth of Other Suns. Book talks are free and open to the public. Be sure to bring a snack and drink as this is typically dinner time.
YWCA has received several donated copies of The Warmth of Other Suns. These books will be offered on a first come, first served basis to Book Talk participants. Otherwise, attendees are expected to provide their own copies of the book.
In this bestselling,
beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson
chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the
decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and
western cities, in search of a better life. NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD
WINNER From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the
face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of
other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and
gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and
vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our
cities, our country, and ourselves. With stunning historical detail, Wilkerson
tells this story through the lives of three unique individuals.
Both a riveting microcosm
and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and
riveting work, a superb account of an "unrecognized immigration" within
our own land.
Journey for Justice Summer 2023
YWCA Racial Justice Committee will be sponsoring a Journey for Justice tour in the summer 2023. In preparation for the trip, travelers are invited to participate in the book talks about the novel The Warmth of Other Suns. Through the book talks, participants will begin unpacking their personal identities and histories in relation to justice and develop action steps toward advocacy and active allyship for members of underserved communities. The purpose of this civil rights trip is
to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of the ongoing journey
toward justice in the United States. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King,
“Justice is love correcting that which revolts against love” (from the Speech at Holt Street Baptist
Church in Montgomery on Dec. 5, 1955)
The following locations are slated to be
part of the “Journey to Justice” tour. Locations, visiting hours and ticket
prices will be finalized in spring, 2023.
Tentative Destinations
● Atlanta,
GA: National Center for Civil and Human Rights
● Montgomery,
AL: National Memorial for Peace and Justice & Legacy Museum
● Birmingham,
AL: Civil Rights Institute
While the book talks are recommended, it is not necessary to participate in The Warmth of Other Suns Book Talks in order to attend the Journey for Justice trip coordinated by YWCA.
If you have any questions, please contact YWCA at 618.465.7774.
