Cranston Public Library values the voices of the entire community and welcomes all who would like to join us in antiracist dialogue and action. Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI) is our one book, one state community reading program brought to us by the Rhode Island Center for the Book.
Join the Remix! is a partnership of Cranston Public Library, OneCranston Health Equity Zone (HEZ), and Cranston Public Schools.
Read
For the 19th annual RARI selection, the Rhode Island Center for the Book has selected Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Visit the Center for the Book website to read more about this year’s selection, related programming and resources, and the team that brought everything together.
Cranston Public Library, OneCranston HEZ, and Cranston Public Schools are honored to bring this book to our community as a way to encourage and facilitate difficult conversations about race and translate the themes of the book into action.
Ways to get a copy of the book:
- Request a copy through the library catalog
- Sign up for one of the Join the Remix! book discussion meetings (details below in the Engage section)—registered participants will receive a copy of the book to keep
- A limited quantity of the book will be distributed to Cranston Public Schools—check with your middle school or high school librarian for availability
- Order a copy through Barrington Books or your local independent bookstore
Reflect
In his introduction to Stamped, Dr. Kendi writes, “To know the past is to know the present. To know the present is to know yourself.” We encourage you to read along with us and get to know yourself and your community through the process of reflection.
Ways to reflect:
- Use these questions to spark a conversation with family and friends [PDF] (questions generated by staff at the Cranston Public Library and OneCranston HEZ)
- Browse this list of readalike titles for children, teens, and adults [PDF] and expand your learning.
- Think about how you’d like to share your reaction to what you’ve read by creating a video response (see the Contribute section below for more details)
Engage
Cranston Public Library and OneCranston HEZ will host three Join the Remix! book discussion virtual meetings moderated by CPL Trustee Larry Warner. Our goal is to facilitate intergenerational discussion about the themes in the book and get us all thinking about ways to bring positive social change to our community.
Book discussion meetings are open to adults and students (grade 6 and above). Please join us to make your voices heard! Space is limited—please choose only one meeting to attend and register using this form. Meeting dates are:
- Thursday, March 25 | 6:30-7:30 PM - Past event
- Wednesday, April 14 | 4:00-5:00 PM - Past event
- Saturday, May 1 | 2:30-3:30 PM - Past event
Registered meeting participants will receive a free copy of Stamped to keep and an Antiracist & Ally Toolkit with additional resources, an antiracism button, and a commemorative bookmark.
Contribute
Check back soon for more ways to get involved! We look forward to working together to generate ideas for real change. Some upcoming activities will include:
- Creating and sharing a book reaction video (and be eligible to win prizes!) - read more by clicking this link.
- Participating in a Virtual Town Hall on May 13 at 6:30 PM
Questions? Ideas?
Send an email to zach@cranstonlibrary.org or call 401-943-9080 x3. Please put “CPL Remix” in the Subject line of your email.
Funding for CPL’s Join the Remix! programming is made possible by a generous grant from the Rhode Island Foundation