Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Read

Scattered Buckeye leaves in shades of scarlet

Below you will find a collection of readings that connect to both historical and contemporary perspectives on racism. Many of these books can be accessed through The Ohio State University Libraries.

In partnership with University Libraries, we've created reading guides to structure and spark conversation. These guides can be used to facilitate conversations and reading groups with friends, family members and colleagues about race and racism.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Creating a Discussion Group

From the American Library Association; additional tips for book discussion groups can be found at on their website.

What kind of discussion group? 
  • Is the discussion and reading considered part of the work responsibilities?
  • Does the discussion and reading fit into your student organization’s goals?
  • If outside of work or school, is it still a professional group?
  • Is the group social or serious, or a mix of both?
What kind of reading will your discussion group focus on? 

Below, we provide a list of primarily nonfiction readings; however, discussion groups could focus on other genres as well.

How many members? 
  • 8-16 is recommended, but you can adapt for your group. 
  • Have a group larger than 16? Break down into smaller discussion groups. If facilitating the group over CarmenZoom, you can use CarmenZoom break out rooms.
  • Remember, depending on the kind of group, every group member might not attend every meeting.
How often should the group meet?
  • For workplace reading groups, we recommend once or twice a month.
  • For other groups, consider the schedules and responsibilities of group members.
When should the group meet? 
  • What time works best for everyone’s schedule?
  • Is the group voluntary or expected of everyone?
How does the group keep in touch? 

Consider electing one person to send reminders and calendar invites so that everyone stays in the loop.

 

Additional Resources

Reading Guides
Articles
Books