Tag Archives: Black History Month

What comes to mind when you hear the word, “caste”? Most likely, your first thought is the Caste System in India. Because of someone’s birthplace and familial ties, they are relegated to a subset of personhood that can never be changed. A system that places the “other” not because of their actions, but by seemingly random guidelines and tricks of fate set long ago. To us in the United States, it sounds a little absurd… after all, aren’t “all men created equal”? Or is the problem closer to home than we think? In Caste, Wilkerson addresses racial disparities in the United States, specifically between two of her designated “castes”, Black and white. She takes us through the history of the United States through the lens of a caste system, rather than a strictly racial one. Wilkerson draws from historical examples of this caste system at work, her own personal experiences, and the work done by scholars both in the Indian Caste System, and prominent scholars in the United States by explaining what defines a caste system, what pillars, framework, and subjugation it exists under. Altogether creating a moving and seminal work detailing the otherwise hidden and mislabeled Caste System of America,

Caste is a stunning and eye opening recontextualization of how racial oppression exists in the US. Not only does it teach the reader a new way to look at our history and our present. But it gives them the tools to understand and grow. Wilkerson did not write Caste to stoke anger or create enemies between these castes we have found ourselves unwitting participants of, but to unite us against the injustices of the past and prepare for a better future. Caste is a book meant to be talked about, making it a perfect addition to any Book Club Group who value good discussion and challenging works. It is important that books that teach us so much about ourselves and our history remain accessible for audiences. Like our last spotlight, The Light of Days by Judy Batalion, there is a Young Adults Edition available for a younger audience interested in the topic.

“We are not personally responsible for what people who look like us did centuries ago. But we are responsible for what good or ill we do to people alive with us today. We are, each of us, responsible for every decision we make that hurts or harms another human being. We are responsible for recognizing that what happened in previous generations at the hands of or to people who look like us set the stage for the world we now live in and that what has gone before us grants us advantages or burdens through no effort or fault of our own, gains or deficits that others who do not look like us often do not share. We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and openhearted enlightenment, our own wisdom. We are responsible for ourselves and our own deeds or misdeeds in our time and in our own space and will be judged accordingly by succeeding generations.”

• Isabel Wilkerson, Caste

If you’re interested in requesting Caste for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 8 copies. (A librarian must request items)

Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste. Penguin Random House. 2020.

This year’s theme for Black History Month, chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “African Americans and Labor”. Today’s Book Club Spotlight by author Gary Paulsen takes a well-deserving look at a Black man who not only served his community faithfully through his work but excelled far above his station. ALA Notable Book and One Book for Nebraska Teens 2017, The Legend of Bass Reeves, is at once a historical fiction novel and historical fact. Known for his outdoor adventure novels, Paulsen writes vignettes based on the life of Bass Reeves, interspersing them with historical background, making the case for Reeves to be the one true hero of the West.

An illiterate runaway slave, Bass Reeves was the true, unknown icon of the Western Frontier. Despite facing down the barrel of a gun countless times, he was never injured, and he never shot first. Having daringly escaped slavery at 17, Bass lived free in the lawless land of Indian Territory- run by gangs and thieves. After saving one of their own from wolves, he finds companionship and family with the Muscogee Creek people for over 20 years. Never one to slow or turn down a challenge, at the age of 51, Reeves took up the badge and became the most successful and feared Deputy Federal Marshal of the West, his life story rivaled only by the fictional Lone Ranger. 

For readers 10 and up, The Legend of Bass Reeves is a mostly fictional account of the real man. Unfortunately, as an illiterate former slave, Reeves did not keep any journals, and not much was written about him while he was alive. Paulsen sets out to right some of this wrong, pulling Reeves from obscurity. For his young audience, Paulsen wanted to give the unstoppable and honorable Bass Reeves his due instead of the outlaws like Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy. The Legend of Bass Reeves, while about the heroic man, also delves into the lawless West, from the makeup of the land, the communities, and the treatment of Black and Native peoples in an accessible way for young readers to understand and any Book Club Group to discuss the finer points of. 

If you’re interested in requesting The Legend of Bass Reeves for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 11 copies. (A librarian must request items)

Paulsen, Gary. The Legend of Bass Reeves. Random House. 2006.

Happy Black History Month from Book Club Spotlight! The theme for 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts,” which honors the incredible contributions of African Americans to culture, music, art, and literature. And what better combination of art and literature is there than graphic novels? So, to wrap up our mini-series, we will follow young Somali refugees displaced by civil war. Where the Stars are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, is based on the childhood of Mohamed, who grew up in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp. The list of honors for this book is massive, including being a National Book Award Finalist, the School Library Journal Best Book of 2020, and a 2021-22 Golden Sower Chapter Book Nominee.

Omar and his brother Hassan have been in the Dadaab refugee camp for seven years! Without their parents, the boys live on their own, watched over by an aging foster mother, Fatuma. Having the responsibility of caring for himself and his nonverbal brother, everyday Omar must clean the floorless tent they sleep on, hide any valuables from thieves, and wait. Wait for water, wait for food, wait for his mother to find them, wait for the war to end, and wait to leave the refugee camp. When Omar gets a chance to attend school, he is far behind other children his age, and soon, the pressure of school and chores begins to make him angry and resentful. As he grows and becomes continually frustrated with his situation, he sees how everyone else is stuck just like him—especially the girls, who, like Omar, are burdened with too many responsibilities. With encouragement from his friends and community, Omar grows more confident in his abilities and in Hassan and starts dreaming about a future outside the camp. And one day, Omar’s and Hassan’s names are called for an interview with the UN for a chance to finally leave Dadaab, an exciting and terrifying possibility. 

Written for middle grades and up, all will be deeply moved by reading this graphic novel. With wars waging worldwide, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed and powerless, and listening to stories of those going through these tough times matters. When Stars are Scattered is an excellent representation of the day-to-day life in refugee camps. Maybe your Book Club Group wants to learn more about what life is like for refugees, or your students have questions about what is happening to displaced children like them. Since moving to America, Mohamed has dedicated his life to serving his community back in Dadaab and improving the living conditions of refugees, especially young girls through his nonprofit foundation, Refugee Strong.

“Please take away from the reading of this book an understanding that you should never give up hope. In the camp, we were given courage by our faith to always be patient and to never lose hope. Things may seem impossible, but if you keep working hard and believe in yourself, you can overcome anything in your path. I hope my story will inspire you to always persevere.” 

Omar Mohamed

If you’re interested in requesting When Stars are Scattered for your book club, you can find the Request Form here. There are 10 copies available. (A librarian must request items)

To see more of our Black Voices book club titles, visit here.

Jamieson, Victoria & Mohamed, Omar. When Stars are Scattered. Penguin Random House. 2020