I have just finished reading two books that are fairly different from my usual reading diet. I usually read fairly widely, but my preferred fiction genres tend to be historical fiction and gentle mysteries with some light romance thrown in as well, particularly bonnet fiction. Non-fiction wise, I read professionally for work which encompasses works specifically for librarians but also more widely in business, marketing, leadership, etc. I also read a lot of Christian books since I am employed at a Christian university. I stumbled upon the title Where Jasmine Blooms by Holly S. Warah when the title appeared on a list of recommended books somewhere. The synopsis sounded interesting so I promptly requested a copy through our local public library system. The second title, I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown was recommended by a friend on FaceBook and also promptly requested. Both titles were highly engaging and well worth the time to read.
Where Jasmine Blooms is a fiction work centered around the lives of three women in a multi-generational family. Two of the women are white Americans who have married or are marrying into a Muslim family. The third woman is their recently widowed Muslim mother-in-law who is living with one of the families. This book was intriguing for many reasons. The story shows the difficulties of an intercultural marriage as the women interacted with and learned about the expectations of their husband's family. The character of the "Mother," as she is referred to, demonstrates the difficulties of living in a new country where one is unfamiliar with the language and customs. Learning about the Muslim culture and their religious practices was also eye-opening such as when the women attended Qu'ran study just as I would attend a Bible study. Stepping into their lives and learning about the prejudices and fears they experienced as Muslim-Americans and their experiences when traveling to their homeland in the Middle East was also eye-opening. This book is highly recommended as a warm, engaging story that opens your eyes to the experiences of others.
I'm Still Here is a memoir by Austin Channing Brown. From the moment I began reading, I was drawn in to her experiences as her writing demonstrates the often heard adage of "show, don't tell." As her experiences unfold via the pages of the book, conviction sets in as you see yourself or someone you know mirrored in the stories told of interacting with white people at church, school, and the work place. While your heart breaks for her experiences and the experiences of others you know, you are also led to examine your own practices and those of organizations. While familiar with the concept of white privilege, I'm Still Here made the concept much more vivid than previously understood. In one section, Brown shares the experience of white people confessing their sin of racism to her and that now she issues a "challenge toward transformation" asking "So what are you going to differently?" (110). After finishing this book, that is the exact question I am asking myself and of the organization in which I am involved. I enjoyed this book so much and desire others to read it so a copy is being purchased for the library where I am employed. A free discussion guide for this book is available as well as an online course to delve into the content.
My challenge to my readers today is not only to read these books, particularly I'm Still Here, but also to seek out other diverse books. The opportunity to travel geographically (or through time) may not be available, but books provide the opportunity to experience other places and cultures and to walk in the shoes of others. Happy reading!
