Justice Initiatives Book Club: Reading With Patrick by Michelle Kuo
We've seen it before: a well-meaning, idealistic yuppie takes a job teaching poor students of color, breaks down the students' walls, and transforms their lives in a heartwarming tale.
Reading With Patrick is not that story.
After graduating from Harvard, Michelle Kuo takes a job with Teach for America in a town that lives in the shadow of Jim Crow. Poverty and violence are abundant; schools are dysfunctional. After two years, Michelle leaves for law school—but the Delta calls her back. On the eve of her graduation, she learns a former student has been charged with murder. Unable to turn away, she delays her legal career to tutor him in reading and writing as he awaits trial in the county jail.
As we read this gritty memoir, we'll explore intersecting themes of poverty and racism in our education and criminal justice systems.
We will meet Monday evenings in February (2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22) over Zoom. Each participant will receive a free copy of the book.
Please register and sign up to receive news about other BPL virtual programming. Registration is limited to 10 participants, with a waiting list.
This is the eighth installment of Justice Initiatives' book club. We'll invite readers to dive into a new title every month, sparking conversations about social power, dismantling oppressive systems, and fostering collective action.
We've seen it before: a well-meaning, idealistic yuppie takes a job teaching poor students of color, breaks down the students' walls, and transforms their lives in a heartwarming tale.
Reading With Patrick is not that story.
After graduating from Harvard, Michelle Kuo takes a job with Teach for America in a town that lives in the shadow of Jim Crow. Poverty and violence are abundant; schools are dysfunctional. After two years, Michelle leaves for law school—but the Delta calls her back. On the eve of her graduation, she learns a former student has been charged with murder. Unable to turn away, she delays her legal career to tutor him in reading and writing as he awaits trial in the county jail.
As we read this gritty memoir, we'll explore intersecting themes of poverty and racism in our education and criminal justice systems.
We will meet Monday evenings in February (2/1, 2/8, 2/15, and 2/22) over Zoom. Each participant will receive a free copy of the book.
Please register and sign up to receive news about other BPL virtual programming. Registration is limited to 10 participants, with a waiting list.
This is the eighth installment of Justice Initiatives' book club. We'll invite readers to dive into a new title every month, sparking conversations about social power, dismantling oppressive systems, and fostering collective action.
Brooklyn Public Library - Virtual MM/DD/YYYY 60