WINTER. SPRING. SUMMER. 2017.
WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This winter Black Unicorn Book Club discusses Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s long form essay, We Should All Be Feminists. The essay is adapted from her 2013 Ted Talk, and examines the dangerous and limiting gender roles placed upon women and men in today’s society. While the essay focuses on gender norms in Nigeria, there are universal connections to gender disparities in the United States and beyond.
As millions of women, men, and genderqueer folk plan to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump this January, both in DC and around the country, this essay remains relevant and vital. What role did gender politics play in the 2016 election? How are we working to make change in the face of blatant misogyny, sexism, racism, islamophobia, and homophobia? What does it mean to be a “feminist” today, to march in support of women’s lives? What is your definition of feminism? Are just a some of the questions we’ll explore as we engage with this text, and push forward into the new and uncertain year.
This session is full. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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BRIGHT DEAD THINGS by Ada Limón
Celebrate National Poetry Month with Black Unicorn Book Club by discussing Ada Limón’s Bright Dead Things. A finalist for the 2015 National Book Awards, Limón’s 4th collection of poetry is fiercely feminist, full of swagger, and focused on loss, love, and self. The poems take us from New York to rural Kentucky, and Limón’s economy of language is bold and echoing.
In honor of National Poetry Month, we’ll pay homage to some of the greats who are in conversation with Limón, write and share some words/poems of our own, and dive into discussing Bright Dead Things with vigor and courage. You do not need to be a poet or writer to join this discussion. You just need to open to the possibilities of language and storytelling.
Register HERE for this discussion. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi
July 2017 will mark the 2nd anniversary of Sandra Bland’s murder. As we remember her life and continue to fight for justice, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi offers readers an epic, multi-generational look at the long-lasting effects of slavery. The novel begins with the stories of two half-sisters who are separated early on by circumstances out of their control. One sister is sold into slavery and shipped to the United States, the other marries a British slaver and stays in Ghana. What follows is a sweeping look at how the lives of each sister, and the lives of their ancestors unfold in these two deeply connected, but distant places.
Homegoing is an astounding debut, full of poetic magic and struggle. Join Black Unicorn Book Club for a rich discussion as we use this work of fiction to explore the history of slavery, celebrate multi-generational survival and resilience, and draw connections to modern day systems of oppression and social justice movements.
Register HERE for this discussion. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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PAST DISCUSSIONS
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez is at its core a love story between two teenagers— Maribel and Mayor. Mayor’s family is from Panama, and Maribel’s from Mexico, but both find themselves living in the same apartment complex in Delaware. As the two teenagers become close, the dreams and hopes of their families collide, along with the dreams and hopes of other Latin American immigrants living in the building. Henríquez has woven a debut novel full of voice, heart, violence, and resilience, offering her readers another definition of what it means to be American.
This session is closed. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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Octavia Butler was a badass, sci-fi writer who as a black women WROTE HERSELF INTO EXISTENCE and left an astounding legacy of work after her death in 2006. The Parables chronicle the life of Lauren Olamina, a young woman growing up in a dystopian United States, where environmental and economic crises have led to social chaos. When the walls of her gated community are breached, Lauren loses her family and home, and is forced to venture out into a violent world. A story of survival, faith, love, hate, and community— this series is a page-turner and you won’t want to miss it.
Join the BUBC for a casually facilitated chat about The Parables, Octavia Butler’s legacy, and where we see some of her future visions of America in the current political climate. Guiding questions and participant bios provided, and please only sign up if you can attend both sessions.
This session is closed. $10.00 facilitation fee/session for new participants, FREE for past participants. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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Lindy West grew up in a culture that demanded she be small, quiet, and agreeable. In Shrill: Notes from a loud woman, West narrates her painfully shy childhood, during which she tried to hide her big body and her even bigger opinions. She talks about her adventures as a stand-up comedian— the fat-shaming and violence she’s encountered, as well as her on-going quest to love her body despite internet trolls and haters. Written with courage, humor, and vulnerable charm, West provides a hilarious and honest roadmap for how to survive in a world that is often unfair, cruel, and full of double standards for women.
This session is closed. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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Split by Cathy Linh Che is a powerful collection of poems dealing with sexual violence, the Vietnam war, immigration, and and what it means to live with the aftermath of this inherited history. Split looks closely at the land and the mind, and explores how to heal, to be whole. Poet Yusef Komunyakaa writes: “Split crosses borders, exposing truths and dreams, violations of body and mind, aligning them until the deep push-pull of silence and song become a bridge. And here we cross over into a landscape where beauty interrogates, and we encounter a voice that refuses to let us off the hook.”
This session is closed. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine is a powerful work of poetry, prose, and art examining the onslaught of racial aggressions and micro-aggressions black women and men experience in contemporary daily life. From examining encounters with racist neighbors, to exploring the life and legacy of athlete Serena Williams, Citizen is a dangerous and powerful piece of evidence against the idea that we are living in a “colorblind” society.
THIS SESSION IS FULL. Email for a spot on the wait list. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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The Argonauts is Maggie Nelson’s latest work, part memoir, part theoretical essay, it fiercely bends genres and explores issues of desire, identity, as well as the boundaries and possibilities of love. Central to this book is the relationship between Nelson and the fluidly gendered artist Harry Dodge, taking readers through both the joys and complexities of queer family making.
THIS SESSION IS FULL. Email for a spot on the wait list. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
*No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
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The Turner House is Flournoy’s debut novel and follows the lives of the 13 Turner children as they grow-up on Yarrow Street in Detroit, Michigan during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. When their mother, the matriarch of the family, falls ill and loses her independence, the adult Turner kids must figure out how to save their home in the midst of Detroit’s housing crisis. Each Turner is called back to decide the fate of the house and also confront how each of their pasts might haunt and shape the future.
Register now to discuss The Turner House on Saturday, August 20th. $25.00 facilitation fee/session. Must have access to internet and GoogleHangouts to participate. Space is limited.
* No one turned away for lack of funds. Email blackunicornbookclub(at)gmail(dot)com to inquire about scholarships.
