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The Read

 Waking Up White Regional Read, taking place August through November 2021, invites the community to read Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving, attend public presentations, and engage in book chat conversations about ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive multicultural community. All events are free and open to the public but registration is required. COVID-19 in-person recommendations from local health departments will be observed.

The Book

Waking Up White is the book Debby Irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. By sharing her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As she unpacks her own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race. She also explains why and how she’s changed the way she talks about racism, works in racially mixed groups, and understands the racial justice movement as a whole.

Where to Find

 

  • Western Wisconsin residents, check out a book through the Winding Rivers Library System
    • Individual paperback books
    • Book kits (10 books plus guided discussion) available for check out to be used for hosting book discussions
  • Eastern Minnesota residents, check out a book through the Southeastern Libraries Cooperating System
  • Pick up a FREE COPY at one of these locations:
    • Cameron Park Farmer's Markets in La Crosse - Bridges Church table on Aug. 27, Sept. 4 & 18
    • La Crosse City Hall Lobby
    • Libraries:
      • Holmen 
      • La Crosse - North, Main, and South
      • Onalaska
      • West Salem 
    • Our Savior's Lutheran Church​​, Tuesday nights, "Come for Supper" 5-6:30 pm, 612 Division St., La Crosse
    • People's Food Co-op, 315 5th Ave. S., La Crosse
    • Regional Read Public Presentations (see below, #3)
    • Trinity Lutheran Church, "Monday Meals" 5-6 pm, 1010 Sill St., La Crosse
    • Western Technical College Student Success Center 
    • Western Technical College satellite campuses (Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Tomah, Viroqua)

Public Presentations

Public Presentations are free, in-person presentations (streaming available for most) on a variety of antiracism topics with local relevance. Having finished Waking Up White is not a prerequisite for attending a presentation. COVID-19 in-person recommendations from local health departments will be observed. 

September

  • 12th - Racial Healing Across Segregated Places and "Midwest Nice" Faces - 1:00 P.M. -  Weber Center*

Amanda Florence Goodenough of Social Responsibility Speaks - Register

  • 18th - The Power is Yours - 1:30 P.M. - English Lutheran Church*

Tashyra Bernard and Shamawyah Curtis of Hope Restores - Register

  • 25th - The Socialization of Race - 2:00 P.M. - Hamilton Elementary School*

Dr. Ben Burns - Register

October

  • 9th - Waking Up White -Through the Eyes of an Interracial Couple - 4:00 P.M. - Western TC Lunda Center*

Dr. Bee Lo and Lynette Prieur Lo - Register

  • 11th - Returning to Ourselves - 7:00 P.M. - UWL Student Unions- Bluffs Room

Dr. Roger Kuhm - Register

  • 23rd - Cultivating Cultural Empathy to Overcome White Supremacy Thinking - 2:00 P.M. - La Crosse Public Library*

​​​​​​​Dr. Suthakaran Veerasamy - Register

  • 30th - Grass Rooting in Predominately White Communities - 10:30 A.M. - Black River Beach Neighborhood Center*

​​​​​​​Shaundel Spivey and Jazzma Holland of Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) - Register

November

  • 6th - How Children Learn About Race and How Adults Can Help - 10:30 A.M. - 1st Congregational Church

​​​​​​​Dr. Erin Winkler - Registration opens October 1 for this event only. 

  • 14th - Racism as a Public Health Crisis - 1:00 P.M. - Viterbo Fine Arts Center*

​​​​​​​Reggie Jackson and Dr. Fran Kaplan of Nurturing Diversity Partners - Register

Book Chats

Book chats are free, 90-minute, small group, theme-based facilitated discussions based on a topic raised in the book Waking Up White. Having finished the book is not a prerequisite for joining a discussion. Book chat spaces are limited to 6 people per group to facilitate courageous conversations. Register early through the La Crosse Public Library, for best selection. COVID-19 in-person recommendations from local health departments will be observed. 

September

  • Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 pm. "Listening While White" Community Connections Center, La Crosse -  Register
  • Thursday, Sept. 16 at 12 pm. "How to Embrace Critical Feedback on Racism" La Crosse Public Library, Main St. -  Register
  • Saturday, Sept. 18 at 10 am. "The Myth of Reverse Racism" Community Connections Center, La Crosse - Register
  • Saturday, Sept. 18 at 2 pm. "Why Being 'Color-Blind' is not a Good Approach" Viroqua Library -  Register
  • ​Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10 am. "Parental Involvement Within the School Community" Onalaska Library​ -  Register
  • Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10 am. "From Bystander to Antiracist" The Parenting Place, La Crosse. ** -  Register
  • Monday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 pm. "Systemic Racism: Policies that have Promoted Privilege" Bridges Church La Crosse -  Register

 

October

  • Thursday, Oct. 7 at 12 pm. "Employment Opportunity Discrimination" La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce (US Bank Bldg.) -  Register
  • Saturday, Oct. 9 at 2 pm. "An Ilustration of How Racism Shows Itself in Schools" Western Technical College Lunda Center -  Register
  • Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 pm. "White Fragility" La Crescent Library - Register
  • Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 pm. "The Cost of Racism to Black, Indigenous, & People of Color" Community Connections Center, La Crosse - Register
  • Thursday, Oct. 21 at 12 pm. "White Traits that Might be Holding your Organization Back" La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce (US Bank Bldg.) - Register
  • Saturday, Oct. 23 at 10 am. "From Bystander to Antiracist" Holmen Library - Register
  • Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 pm. "Mass Incarceration: How Did We Get Here" La Crosse Area Heritage Center - Register​

 

November

  • Monday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 pm. "Why Being "Color-Blind" is Not a Good Approach" The Parenting Place, La Crosse. childcare available, must pre-register child** - Register
  • Thursday, Nov. 4 at 6:30 pm. "White Savior Complex/My Robin Hood Syndrom" Our Savior Lutheran Church - Register
  • Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 am. "Stereotypes and the Language we Use" People's Food Co-op in La Crosse - Register
  • Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 am. "Why Being Color-Blind" is Not a Good Approach" Winona Library - Register
  • Sunday, Nov. 7 at 1 pm. "Unintentionally Defending and Perpetuating the Unfair System" West Salem Library - Register
  • Thursday, Nov. 18 at 12 pm. "What About La Crosse?" Community Connections Center, La Crosse - Register