Blog

Waking Up White Regional Read

August 27, 2021

Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive OfficerBy Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer

RR logo.png

Waking Up White Regional Read

The Waking Up White Regional Read, hosted by the La Crosse Public Library in conjunction with the Waking Up White Collaborative, kicked off on August 16th and will continue through mid-November. The Read will distribute 1000 free copies of the book, host 9 public presentations, and 20 small group facilitated BookChats.

The Waking Up White Regional Read’s intent is to encourage frank community conversations on structural oppression, prejudice, color blindness, dominant white culture, and its effects on people of color and to motivate us to take action to create a healthier multicultural community.

About Waking Up White by Debby Irving

Waking Up White is the book Debby Irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. By sharing her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As she unpacks her own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she
reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race. She also explains why and how she’s changed the way she talks about racism, works in racially mixed groups, and understands the racial justice movement as a whole.

Joining the Waking Up White Regional Read

Pick up a free copy of Irving’s Waking Up White at the La Crosse Public Library, then check out the links below to see all the dates of the public presentations and BookChats. There’s plenty of local opportunities just waiting for you to sign up. Locations range from Viroqua to Winona, and some even offer free childcare! Check them out below and keep going on your diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice journey! No matter where you’re at, there’s a place for you in the conversation.

Waking Up White Brochure

Waking Up White Poster

You can also find more information by visiting LaxWakingUpWhite.com

La Crosse Community Foundation is a proud supporter of the Waking Up White Regional Read