EEA’s Anti-Oppression Book Club, Season Three!
Led by Lalaa Comrie of This Black Girl Reads
October 2023 – May 2024
Online using Zoom, and In Person (location TBD)
Free | Register below
Accessibility: Please Contact Us If You Have Any Needs or Concerns Regarding Access!

About the Anti-Oppression Book Club

The Anti-O Book Club originally launched in 2021, and endeavours to be a space where people can share ideas, ask important questions, and share their love of literature and social justice in an inclusive and respectful environment. Led by the talented Lalaa Comrie of This Black Girl Reads, we are ecstatic to bring back our bi-monthly Book Club for a third season to help us expand our practice and understanding of anti-oppression. We hope you’ll join us! Scroll down to learn about the 2023-2024 lineup of books and how to join us!

“There is a power in the books we read—to educate us, to empower us, and to connect us with experiences beyond our own. My goal in leading an online group in learning more about anti-oppressive practices through literature is to choose books that allow readers to see beyond themselves and broaden their depth. The hope is to facilitate conversations that are not only inclusive but allow a deeper understanding of each other. In our current climate books are more important than ever. My hope is to draw out those who are reluctant” – Lalaa Comrie

“I luv this group! It is a pleasure learning/unlearning/relearning with this mixed group of thoughtful humans. Lalaa puts so much work into preparing content & questions for our discussion. I read so many books that I wouldn’t otherwise and I’m proud to say that I belong to this anti-oppression book club!” – Season 2 Participant

2023-2024 Book Lineup

Over the course of the next several months, we will read the following incredible books, selected by our facilitator:

Tuesday October 3, 2023 – Kick Off Club
Location: In-Person Club at Queen Books on Queen East!
BOOK: And the Walls Came Down, by Denise Dacosta
Book Description: This book is a rollercoaster of emotions and a beautiful depiction of resilience in the midst of poverty. Set in the 90s in Toronto, the book follows a Black family living in a housing complex and takes us through the motions and emotions of life and survival. This book gives insight into the experiences of Canadians living in poverty, and the toll this takes on relationships and mental health. And the Walls Came Down is a character-driven narrative about mental illness, secrets, class, gender, race, family, friendship, community, and survival.
Trigger Warnings: abusive mother, alcoholism, racism
Tuesday November 28, 2023
Location: Online Via Zoom
BOOK COMING SOON
Book Description. COMING SOON
Trigger Warnings: coming soon
Tuesday January 30, 2024
Location: Online Via Zoom
BOOK COMING SOON
Book Description: COMING SOON
Trigger Warnings: coming soon
Tuesday March 26, 2024
Location: Online Via Zoom
BOOK COMING SOON
Book Description: COMING SOON
Trigger Warnings: coming soon
Tuesday May 28, 2024 – Closing Club
Location: In-Person Club at Queen Books on Queen East!
BOOK COMING SOON
Book Description: COMING SOON
Trigger Warnings: coming soon

Sign up Here!

Interested in joining the Anti-Oppression Book Club with Lalaa Comrie and East End Arts? Click the button below!

Click to Sign Up for the Anti-Oppression Book Club!

Support Local Bookstores

Joining us for the Anti-Oppression Book Club? You can rent these books from the Toronto Library, or if you’re interested in purchasing copies of them, consider supporting one of our many amazing east end book stores!

About the Facilitator

Lalaa Comrie is an award-winning writer, literacy advocate, book blogger, and host of the Getting Lit Podcast. For over a decade Lalaa has worked in Corporate Communications by helping brands create content that is both diverse and inclusive while leveraging the talent of BIPOC creators and storytellers.

The winner of two Copa Awards, Lalaa’s on a mission to highlight the voices that have been suppressed, in hopes that if we diversify our bookshelf it also helps diversify our approaches, bridge the gap, and break down some of the barriers that exist in our community.

Her monthly podcast ‘Getting Lit‘ is a podcast dedicated to reviews and recommendations for diverse reads coming out for the month. Her work has been highlighted by Toronto Life Magazine and she has worked with Twitter Canada, Books for Africa, Canada Reads, and Tech Spark Canada. Her monthly book club has over 50 members across Canada. She shares ways to #DiversifyYourBookshelf on thisblackgirlreads.ca