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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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What We’re Reading in 2021: Our Top Ten Picks for the New Year

Following a year that exposed so much racial inequity ingrained in the bedrock of our society, we are focused on understanding and finding ways to dismantle structural racism.

January 13, 2021

 Two years ago, we compiled a list of the influential books we were reading back then. Each of those books is still relevant and worth a read today. Now we’re adding to that list with a fresh batch, some new and some classics, to further diversify your social justice library. 

Following a year that exposed so much racial inequity ingrained in the bedrock of our society, we are focused on understanding and finding ways to dismantle structural racism. There are lots of other reading lists you can explore to find additional thought-provoking books, but here are our team’s top suggestions. 

  • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racismby Robin DiAngelo, 2018. The subject of many Zoom book club discussions recently, this relatively short but powerful book offers tools white people can use to enter truly meaningful discussions of racial inequality. 
  • Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, 2020. This #1 New York Times bestseller, written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, reveals the rigid caste system that lies largely unacknowledged but deeply influential within our country’s culture and politics. 
  • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2015. Another #1 New York Times bestseller on our list, this short memoir written in the form of letters to the author’s teenaged son, explores the big issues of racism with a deeply personal lens. 
  • Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, 2020. A starkly honest examination of rural America, rooted in one of the authors’ real-life childhood experiences, that exposes the devastating effects of American policy and apathy on people living in poverty. 
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, 2019. In a follow-up to his award-winning book Stamped from the Beginning, the author argues that we must move away from the emotions surrounding racism and towards the action of being antiracist in order to undo our society’s underlying unjust policies.  
  • When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele, 2018. This hauntingly beautiful memoir of the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement reads like a novel but is painfully real. 
  • We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2015. A personal essay by an award-winning Nigerian author, this little book proves that good things often come in small packages. It grew from a popular TEDx talk and is appropriate for teens as well as adults. 
  • The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson, 2017. Written by a historian, this book thoroughly examines an infamous tragedy that occurred in 1955 and connects that lynching with the racial justice struggles of today. 
  • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon, 2019. This brave memoir chronicles the author’s experience of growing up black and obese in Mississippi, surrounded by poverty, violence, and racism. The book transcends one man’s story and applies it to the weight we all bear.   
  • Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, 2015. Written by the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and now a major motion picture, this memoir is deeply moving and painfully honest in exposing deep flaws in our criminal justice system. 

Speaking of EJI, a diverse group of community members joined us on a bus trip to Alabama to experience their Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in April of 2019. Two of the ninety participants shared their insights on that impactful journey. 

Filed Under: Advocacy, Special Interest Tagged With: Antiracist, book recommendations, Caste, crisis assistance, Feminist, justice, Tightrope, white fragility

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We are deeply grateful that so many in our community turn to Crisis Assistance Ministry during times of hardship. It’s a privilege to be a trusted helping hand, and we couldn’t do it without the incredible generosity of our donors who have stood with us for years. If you’re a new supporter, please start with any gift amount you feel comfortable with and watch your dollars go even farther! Today, every gift made will be matched dollar for dollar. That means your $10 donation becomes $20, doubling the impact for our neighbors in need. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure vital assistance reaches those who need it most. View story for direct link.

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Days like this highlight the vital role #volunteers play in Mecklenburg County. Shoutout to the team from Fifth Third Bank who absolutely ROCKED THE HOUSE at Crisis Assistance Ministry on Fifth Third Day! 🙌 They spent the day hanging clothing and inspecting donations, making a real difference for Charlotte-Mecklenburg neighbors.
For those who don't know, Fifth Third Day is all about giving back to the communities they serve, and this year, they aim to provide millions of meals and support across their footprint. Their volunteer efforts here are a powerful example of that commitment!

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What a happy accident. @kwballantyne and @Southpark both signed up to spend #RedDay here and didn’t even know it! They had such a great time serving the community listening to great music and banding together to get the Free Store in tip-top shape. 
Keller Williams was so enthusiastic about helping community members overcome long-term financial instability for their families, they stayed an extra hour before their lunch and had another crew from Southpark serve at 1pm! 👏🏽

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You know how it is – life gets busy, but when something good comes along, you pay attention. Well, guess what? Myers Park United Methodist Church just jumped into our Challenge! 🙌 Their support, along with Christ Church, Covenant Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Myers Park Presbyterian Church is seriously boosting this thing we’re all making happen together.
 
Now, if you’ve been meaning to get involved but haven’t yet, or maybe you donated a while back? 🤔 Good news! This wave of generosity means your gifts will now be doubled through June 1st! Consider it a little nudge – a chance to double your dollars and make a real difference for folks right here in our community.

And hey, if you’re new to the party and looking for a way to actually see your money doing good? 🌱 This is it. Every donation until June 1st gets matched. Let’s not let this momentum fade – we hope to finish strong, like we always do. 💪 Head over to the usual place to make a direct donation.

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To the mothers who face the toughest battles and still rise to provide for their children: Your strength is our inspiration. ❤️ Meet Natasha, a mother of three who found support through Crisis Assistance Ministry and our Financial Empowerment program. Her journey of perseverance is a powerful reminder of a mother's unconditional love.

Happy Mother's Day to all the resilient mothers out there! Let's show them some love today. Double-tap if you agree! 👇

#HappyMothersDay #Resilience #MothersLove #FinancialEmpowerment #CrisisAssistanceMinistry #Inspiration #NeverGiveUp

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