In response to the national conversation regarding racism, the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC) has launched a special grant program to help Mississippi public libraries purchase books to create a racially equitable society. These Anti-Racism Reading Shelf grants will provide at least $500 to interested public library systems.
Working with the Mississippi Library Commission, the MHC has compiled a suggested reading list of over 120 books that libraries can choose from, including works by Eric Foner, Isabel Wilkerson and Henry Louis Gates. The list also includes contemporary Mississippi writers like Angie Thomas, Jesmyn Ward and Kiese Laymon, whose fiction shares the experiences of Black Americans.
“We created this program because we believe books and ideas can change lives. We know there is a tremendous demand for books and program about how we can understand this history,” said MHC Executive Director Stuart Rockoff. “We are pleased to be able to help our state’s public libraries address these important issues.”
Tallahatchie County Library Director Angie Etheridge said the local library system is participating in this grant opportunity, explaining that books were ordered and have arrived.
“We are pleased to add these to our current collection,” she said.
“One of our focus areas for 2020 was to update our collections for all age groups in both branches of our library system,” added Dana Clolinger, library board trustee. “We are pleased with the progress that we have made, but still have more items that we would like to add.”
Funds to support this grant were received from the National Endowment for the Humanities and additional private donations.
