Essays
Black Literature Through Book Clubs & Fellowship
Discover how book influencer Dawnshaeé’s passion led her to create a dynamic book club, fostering deep connections and sparking critical discussions on literature.
Terrence F. Humphrey
Dawnshaeé Reid is a self-proclaimed eclectic whose love for reading has been a constant throughout her life. Her experiences at the University of Kentucky further connected her passion for advocacy and amplifying literature in her community. Dawnshaeé brings people together through her platform, Intro to Eclecticism, where she organizes bookish events and shares her latest thoughts on Bookstagram and BookTok, as well as on her website.
I vividly remember the flurry of emotions — and demand — that I felt when I first got the idea to start a book club. By mid-2021, I had been active in the Bookstagram sphere for two years, forming growing online friendships and developing an undeniable craving for opportunities to connect more deeply with other readers over Black literature. The thought of a book club was floating around in my head. That singular thought was intimidating, and I had no idea where to begin, but I knew I had to start somewhere.
There were many Google searches to combat the fear of embarking on something new, including questions like ‘How does one host a book club?’, ‘What is the criteria for hosting a book club?’, and ‘How could I, specifically, lead a book club?’. There were numerous results; some were informative, but many were either outdated or simply irrelevant to what I knew my community needed. During my research, I took note of the success of other Black-women-led book clubs, such as Oprah’s Book Club and Amerie’s Book Club. I then finalized the pillars of my book club, which is now known as Eclectix the Book Club.
From the conceptual idea of my book club, I left space for it to evolve and accommodate the members. Still, I’ve remained committed to three pillars that were non-negotiable when it came to executing my vision for the book club:
- Cultivate an eclectic reading palette for the members by exploring different genres each month through our selections. Eclecticism is at the forefront of everything I strive to do in life and the book world. It invites opportunities to expand our understanding of the world, and appreciation of literary texts, and evolve our taste through exposure.
- Establish a safe reading environment for Black readers. All are welcome to join the book club, but increasing Black readership in a space that is designed for Black readers’ comfort to express and have open dialogue is a top priority.
- Prioritize Black literature by only reading books by Black authors. Amplifying Black literature is my responsibility as a Black bookish content creator, and I wanted to reiterate that by focusing on the art of Black storytellers for my book club.
Of the three non-negotiables, reading books by Black authors was the most imperative. The decision was driven by the awareness that there’s an abundance of books by Black authors that are often overlooked due to how predominantly white the publishing industry is. Books by Black authors were there; they always have been, but they rarely receive the same amount of marketing and exposure, making it more of a lift for readers to go out and find these titles that aren’t always at the front of a bookstore or garnering a lot of buzz. I wanted the book club to target Black readers specifically, to introduce our members to more authors and stories that they can not only relate to but learn from, laugh with, and simply enjoy. It has always felt the most rewarding to discover a new-to-me, or even a debut Black author through my book club. I realized these stories have the power to bring forth more introspection in an intimate setting with other curious, like-minded eclectics who are determined to be intentional about reading diversely.
I’ve learned that fostering community is an essential part of the human experience, and the online book community is a great place to find your tribe as a book lover. Book clubs aren’t the only way to foster community with other readers, but they are an option to establish a deeper connection to your community and provide a safe haven for readers to return to with each book club pick as they get comfortable dissecting and critically engaging with literature.
