We know it is a little rough out there right now, so Acadia Residence Life and I, Polly the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer thought it would be a wonderful time to launch a new book club. We will be reading the book, Read This to Get Smarter about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More, by Blair Imani.

The book club is open to the whole campus community, staff, and students alike!

The book, Read This to Get Smarter about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More, by Blair Imani, covers themes of identity, relationships, class, disability, how to apologize, what accountability really looks like, gender, and so much more.  

Join us every week on Tuesdays at 4PM for a chat and reflection about the chapter we read that week. Each week we will discuss one chapter and use the reflection questions at the end of the chapter as a guide. The first meeting starts on Tuesday February 22nd at 4pm, where we will be discussing Chapter 1 “Get Smarter About Identity.” This chapter discusses the usage of pronouns and neopronouns, the role that our beliefs and values play in our lives, and breaking down the meanings and nuances of names, as well as the possible biases we may hold depending on our personal and social identity.

About the Author

Have you heard of Blair Imani? Do you follow her on Instagram? Have you read any of her books? You might have seen her “Smarter in Seconds” videos. Blair Imani is a critically acclaimed historian, author, educator, and influencer. The New York Times praised her unique ability to create, “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.”

Blair Imani (she/her/hers) is an award-winning educator, historian, and influencer, and has written three books, Read This to Get Smarter about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More; Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration; and Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History.

She attended Louisiana State University for a degree in history, but her scholarship also spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, and sociology.

Her work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and she is dedicated to making the world a better place, by inspiring people. She has been an influencer since 2020 and has a viral Smarter in Seconds microlearning series where she discusses topics like preferred pronouns, antisemitism, the importance of knowing first aid, how we talk about history, imposter syndrome and more!

Check out her page @BlairImani, as well as her site Blairimani.com to find out more!

How can I get the book?

• Borrow one from Residence Life: they have purchased a few copies for students to borrow (just email)
• Win one by emailing equity@acadiau.ca with a response to the question below!
• Request a copy at the Vaughan Memorial Library!
• Request a loan, place a hold, and pick up in Wolfville at the Annapolis Valley Regional Library
• Your local library: Wherever you are, check your local library and see if you can borrow it!
• Your local or online bookstore: If you can, buy one online or at your local store!
• You can also listen to the book wherever you get your audiobooks.

The contest to win a copy from the Equity Office ends Sunday, February 20th, and winners will be notified on the 21st so that you have time to pick up your book and read the chapter before the meeting! The contest is limited to Acadia students at this time. Remember to email equity@acadiau.ca with you answer to the question “What does Polly do on campus?”

How can I attend meetings?

• Email Polly at equity@acadiau.ca and I can send the MS Teams link with you
• Email Brent at residencelife@acadiau.ca and he can share the MS Teams link with you

Email equity@acadiau.ca for more information, to enter your name to win a copy, or to borrow a book from Residence Life. If you have Instagram, follow the @acadiauniversityequity account for updates.