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Austin Public Library Director Julie Clinefelter has been instrumental in organizing the Social Justice Book Club.

Photos by Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

Three Austin organizations have teamed up in an effort to start important conversations in the community as our world continues to change.

Numerous studies and surveys had revealed the increase of book sales and reading during 2020, as people were forced to choose isolation and solitary hobbies during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the world outside ached under blow after blow of civil unrest, protests, violence and tragedy. For a library director, an opportunity to create a new circle of passionate readers could not have been more perfect.

The library has many other book clubs, but meetings during the pandemic had come to a halt. Director Julie Clinefelter could sense the desperation to reestablish the human connection.

“We noticed there was a sudden increase in desire for people to get together and talk about books,” Clinefelter said. “Everybody had spent 2020 reading, and now they wanted to talk about it.”

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. As the lasting effects socially and culturally rocked Minnesota and the nation, Clinefelter and many others were craving conversation. In the following September, she and a small group of library staff started meeting outside to discuss trending books on socioeconomic happenings and equality. A monthly book choice and regular meetings ensued.

The Human Rights Commission, it turned out, had been doing the same thing in the meantime, and the organizations coincidentally picked the same book for January.

In January of 2021, the Austin Public Library and Human Rights Commission, along with Riverland Community College, joined forces to found the Social Justice Book Club. When the weather turned cold, meetings transitioned to Zoom.

Join the important conversations with library’s newest book club

The institutions had already unknowingly been working on two parallel, but identical, causes: using literature to ignite conversations about equity and inequality as they exist in our world.

“Books can be a fabric that brings everyone together,” Clinefelter said. “It’s a way to talk about something even if there’s a lot of emotion attached to it.”

The Club organizers and members understand, Clinefelter explained, that reading books and talking about them is not going to solve all of the world’s problems. So, the club has a few unofficial guidelines in place to keep the conversations productive in a meaningful way: don’t get bogged down, respect each other’s opinions, and keep in mind that these are big, complex topics with big, complex solutions.

It’s no secret that the topics of the books are, for some, often hot-button, controversial or political in nature. Clinefelter said that, while the Club wants to be unabashed and bold in choosing the books it discusses and not avoid something for the sake of spared feelings, conversations have always remained mature and respectful.

Some of the book choices have challenged white readers to look at culture or society in a new perspective, through the lens of someone different from them, but race is not the only thing worth discussing. The Club has explored ageism, disabilities, gender identity and socioeconomic issues. According to Clinefelter, the group also plans to infuse some relevant fiction options into the mostly-nonfiction lineup.

“Reading fiction can sometimes help you envision a different or new world,” Clinefelter said.

The Club doesn’t have lofty goals of significant cultural change, per se; they don’t brawl over politics or create a space for anger and finger-pointing. The members just leave each meeting a little more thoughtful, a little more aware, and hope that their newfound perspectives will create positive little ripples in their day-to-day lives.

“In my experience with book clubs, you don’t usually come at it with a goal,” Clinefelter explained. “You’re just coming to discuss things. ... The hope is that whoever is there later has those conversations over dinner with their family, or has those conversations with their friends in the community.

Some of the titles that the Club has already explored include “So You Want to Talk About Race,” “The Indigenous History of the World,” “Gender: Ideas, Interactions and Institutions,” “The New Jim Crow,” “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American Workplace,” and “Breaking Through Bias.”

“Books can be a fabric that brings everyone together. It’s a way to talk about something even if there’s a lot of emotion attached to it.” Julie Clinefelter

“The initial part of some of the social justice work that we felt like we could help with here in town was just kind of that curiosity, that initial … awareness,” Clinefelter said. “Realizing that there are other things going on out there, and it’s not just those people. It affects all of us.

The Club has books picked out for each month through June, and the library and commission take turns hosting and facilitating the conversations. Books are provided by the library, with print, audio and ebook versions available in most cases. As of December, anywhere between four to 10 people participate. Clinefelter is excited to see the club grow, and hopes the Club can reconvene face-to-face soon; all adults no matter their demographic, walk of life or political affiliation are welcome.

To join the Social Justice Book Club, call the library at (507) 433-2391 or email ask@aplmn. org.

“It’s the whole idea of building a community, talking about a work of literature even if you’re a Republican, Democrat, or any gender,” Clinefelter said. “You usually start a book club with people that have things in common. That’s what we’ve tried to do here, is find that commonality in the desire to make the world a better place. In being curious about how to improve yourself and the community you live in.” P