New Social Justice Book Group
Reads James
Begins October 7th, 2024
The North American Oceania Kinship Activity invites you to explore, together: James by Percival Everett. James is the story of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim’s (James’) perspective. With sharp humor and observations missed by the original main characters Huck and Tom, this novel is a fresh and important perspective on the plot of the original, as well as the issues of the times. While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain unchanged (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
**“A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own.”—Chicago Tribune • *
“Everett’s most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful.”—The New York Times*
The Social Justice Book Group is dedicated to reading books on issues of antiracism, indigenous rights, immigrant rights and more. The book group will meet every other Monday, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern, for six sessions, starting October 7th.
If you are interested in joining us for this book, please email Fazilee: fazilee@gmail.com. We will begin each session together in meditation. We will then spend time with discussion questions and practices from the book.
The Sufi message warns humanity to know life better and to achieve freedom in life; it warns humanity to accomplish what it considers good, just, and desirable, and before every action, to note its consequences by studying the situation, by judging one’s own attitude, by studying beforehand the method which one adopts to act in life. ~ Social Gathekas, Hazrat Inayat Khan
If you are interested in joining us, please contact: fazilee@gmail.com to register. A Zoom link and reading assignments will be sent to registrants two weeks before the first session. Registration for James by Percival Everett. closes September 30th.
*Used copies are available on Abebooks.com. If you have a local Black-owned bookstore in your area, we also encourage you to look there.
Need more incentive? This is the top book on Barak Obama’s summer reading list!