This year, a new student-led book club seeks to “tackle the issue of racial justice and to foster dialogue on race and identity within the MFJS department.” They meet virtually once a month to discuss and dissect various readings. To get involved and receive the Zoom link each month, contact Dil Khan at dilkush.khan@du.edu. The date of the next meeting is not yet set. 

The book club was started by Dil Khan, a second-year graduate student studying media and public communication with a concentration in global media. In the past, she has facilitated webinars, events and discussions. This is her first time leading a book club.

By creating a space for people to have a conversation with their peers about everything from race, to whiteness, to identity, Khan hopes to achieve several goals: identify issues that perpetuate oppressive systems in place at DU, while empowering students, faculty and staff to collaborate and develop feasible steps to tackle these issues within the community.

“I am a firm believer that conversation leads to change, whether that’s in the classroom or with peers and colleagues. If someone walks away from that conversation learning more or being more open-minded, that’s the goal,” Khan said during the meeting.

Khan acknowledged how overwhelming it can be to talk about race, politics and identity, especially given the difficulties this past year, both with the Black Lives Matter movement’s fight against police brutality and the COVID-19 pandemic. She encouraged participants to take breaks when needed.

The ground rules of the book club epitomize what the group stands for; everyone must be respectful, patient and kind.

“As with any discussion about race and identity, it’s important to make everyone feel comfortable sharing opinions and voicing experiences. This is a safe space to speak honestly and openly. Stories stay, and lessons leave,” Khan said. “I want this to be a space where you can voice your thoughts about the things that we read.”

For their first meeting, the club looked at the 1619 Project provided by the New York Times Magazine. It is an ongoing project developed in August 2019 that aims to “reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of [the United States] national narrative.”

It was launched on the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. The project includes written essays, photo essays, videos and literary works. It has received both criticism and praise. While this quarter will be focused on dissecting various essays from the project, Khan hopes to begin reading books next quarter.

A New York Times subscription is required to view the project, which DU students have access to for free by following this link. Please note it can take up to one week for your account to be verified. If there are any difficulties creating an account, please reach out to Dil Khan. 

While this first meeting on Oct. 14 was small and served as an introduction to the club, a brief discourse followed regarding the best ways to engage in conversations with those who have differing opinions. The club will supply a space to have open conversations about racial issues within the MFJS department, the DU campus and the larger Denver community. Even though these issues can’t be solved overnight, the book club will provide a starting place for discussion and understanding.