Reading Across Rhode Island, Rhode Island’s One Book, One State community read program kicks off its 19th year by encouraging everyone to read Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X Kendi and Jason Reynolds with this year’s Honorary Chair Val Tutson, multiple award winning storyteller and Executive Director of Rhode Island Black Storytellers. Reading Across Rhode Island is a program of the Rhode Island Center for the Book, made possible through a vibrant collaboration of librarians, teachers, book group leaders and readers from across the state.
I’m honored that STAMPED has been chosen as the Reading Across Rhode Island book. I spend a lot of time in Rhode Island and have a special love for the state, so I’m excited to discuss this book, and all it contains, with you all April 8th! -Jason Reynolds
Events & Programming
Reading Across Rhode Island Kicks Off virtually on January 26th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm with the Pell Center at Salve Regina University Readers are invited to join moderator Jim Ludes, Executive Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Policy, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Honorary Chair Val Tutson and Reading Across Rhode Island Education Chair Maureen Nagle for an engaging introduction to the book. View the event recording.
“Stamped in Rhode Island” Live Webinar Series: For educators, librarians, parents and community members interested in learning more about Stamped, our February series offers something for everyone.
February 2: STAMPED in the Classroom: This session will help prepare you and your students to implement Anti-Bias/ Anti-Racist education strategies.With presentations by NEA RI, Rhode Island PBS and special guest Crystal Monteiro, Educator, East Providence Schools & PBS Digital Innovator All-Star. View the Recording.
February 9: STAMPED in Conversation: Teachers and students share stories, insights and resources related to their experiences reading STAMPED.With presentations by Diversity Talks and Equity Institute. Recording: View the Recording.
February 10th at 6pm. We partnered with the Providence Community Library for an author event with Tochi Onyebuchi. Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi is a 2021 Reading Across Rhode Island Fiction Companion Read for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You the 2021 Reading Across Rhode Island Book. Onyebuchi joined Jonathan Pitts-Wiley to discuss RIOT BABY, a fiction companion read for the 2021 RARI selection. View the recording.
February 23: STAMPED in the Community: Join Rhode Island community organizations for performances and interactive experiences to enrich your understanding of STAMPED. Special Guests Rhode Island Black Storytellers. View the Recording.
March 11th, 7pm: Stamped Community Book Club Readers’ Cafe: Join Peter Quesnel, Library Media Specialist at Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex, Alondra Cepeda, 2020 JSEC graduate, Leslyann Oquendo, 2020 JSEC graduate and Ray Rickman, Executive Director of Stages of Freedom for a Reading Across Rhode Island 2021 Community Book Club Readers’ Cafe for a book discussion. The event is hosted by Barrington Books and Rhode Island Center for the Book.on March 11th at 7pm. Register here.
March 24: Join Olubunmi Olatunji, Program Director of Youth in Action, in conversation with Brit Bennett, author of 2021 Reading Across Rhode Island Adult Fiction Companion Read The Vanishing Half. Register here.
March 30th, 12:00pm: Tune into the Down Time With Cranston Public Library podcast for an episode featuring Joel Christian Gill, associate professor of illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Gill is adapting Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped From the Beginning into a graphic novel for Ten Speed Press. In addition to talking with Gill about the process of creating an adaptation of this work, host Tayla Cardillo will chat with him about what he’s been reading and watching lately. Down Time is available everywhere you get podcasts and online at https://cranstonlibrary.org/downtime.
March 31st, 7:00pm: Join the North Kinstown Free Library and Towards and Anti-Racist North Kingstown to discuss STAMPED. Register here.
April 8th at 1pm: *LIVE* Author Event with Jason Reynolds, author of Stamped! Click on this link and use the password: Stamped to view the recording
FundaFest Kickoff. View the Recording.
Living Literature: Email Director Barry Press barrympress@gmail.com for more information about live events and programs. Below, Marlon Carey & Phoenix Williams present a brief excerpt from Living Literature’s Stamped. Living Literature (https://livingliterature.org) brings literature to life through performance.
About This Year’s Book
The #1 New York Times bestselling, “must-read” (San Francisco Chronicle), “amazingly timely and stunningly accessible” (Jacqueline Woodson) exploration of race and racism from award-winning, beloved authors Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.
This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas–and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives. -Little, Brown and Company
About the Author
Jason Reynolds is an award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author. Jason’s many books include Miles Morales: Spider Man, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Correta Scott King Honor, and Look Both Ways, which was a National Book Award Finalist. His latest book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, is a collaboration with Ibram X. Kendi. Jason is the 2020-2021 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and has appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and CBS This Morning. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.
Jason Reynolds author website: https://www.jasonwritesbooks.com
Jason Reynolds on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonReynolds83
Contact Kate Lentz at kate@ribook.org for sets of books available to classroom teachers, library discussion groups and senior centers. Further reading lists, book discussion guides, the author’s website, audio interviews and other supplementary materials may be found on the Rhode Island Center for the Book website at ribook.org.
Rhode Island Center for the Book is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization devoted to promoting personal and community enrichment by celebrating the art and heritage of reading, writing, making, and sharing books. Founded in 2003, the RI Center for the Book is the state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress and resides at The Pell Center at Salve Regina University.
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