Anti-racism book discussion is next week

By Anna Cramer, USNA Co-President

University School of Nashville Sixth Grade English Teacher Katie Sandidge and USNA Co-President Anna Cramer will host a USN community-wide discussion of the book "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo via Zoom on Thursday, October 8 at 7 p.m. USN parents, faculty, and staff are invited to join this discussion of a book that encourages honest conversations about race and racism on topics including:

• “What if I talk about race wrong?”
• “What are microaggressions?”
• “Why are our students so angry?”

As one reviewer encapsulates the book, “Let me say at the outset: this book is for everyone — white or black or any color in between. If you are white, it will make you see nuances of racism that you were probably not aware of, including within yourself, your loved ones, and coworkers. If you are a person of color, it will give you ways to respond calmly, rationally, and intelligently, even when dealing with the well-meaning “I’m not racist” white friend or coworker.”

As our nation moves toward an overdue reckoning on racism, our school community strives not only to discuss, but also to act. We ask each person to come to the discussion with a quote that stuck with you after you put down the book and an action that you would like to take (or are already taking) in response to this book. I once overheard a Lower School teacher asking her class to “be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” It might put you outside your comfort zone to join a discussion about race with fellow parents, faculty, and staff, but we hope that you will take that step and join us as we seek to learn, to act, and, most importantly, to be anti-racist.