National Reading Circle

Classic Works & Scholarly Literature Highlighting Women of Color

The National Reading Circle engages members of Delta Sigma Theta, friends and families to participate in annual virtual events featuring books selected by the DREF Sister Scholars Advisory Council.

The National Reading Circle was revived in a virtual event to discuss Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson in 2021 and celebrated Women’s History month with a Literary Jam fundraising event highlighting Just As I Am, by Cicely Tyson in March 2022.

In 2023 the book selection was Bertha Maxwell-Roddey: A Modern-Day Race Women and the Power of Black Leadership written by DREF Sister Scholar Dr. Sonya Ramsey. The 2024 Spring book discussion First Ladies written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray was recorded and available to review now in the News section on this site.

The Fall/Winter virtual book discussion on December 3, 2004 featured Shirley Chisholm in Her Own Words: Speeches and Writings Edited by Zinga A. Fraser, Ph.D.

The Sister Scholars Advisory Council proudly presents the 2025 Summer Reading List. Please enjoy the following selections:

2025 DREF SUMMER READING LIST

Fiction

Harlem Rhapsody (2025) by Victoria Christopher Murray
Midnight Train from Georgia (2025) by Dhyana Ziegler
Grown Women (2024) by Sarai Johnson
Soul-Aris (2011) by Henrietta Elmore-Smith

Non-fiction

Prosper: A Guide to Flourishing in Life, Business and Career (2024) Compiled by Sharvette Mitchell
A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune (2024) by Noliwe Rooks
Lovely One (2024) by Ketanji Brown Jackson

Young Adult

Black Girl, You Are Atlas (2024) by Renee Watson
Malcolm and Me (2020) by Robin Farmer
100 Things Black Boys Should Do and Know (2022) by Jason T. Huey

College Preparatory/Readiness

The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions- 2^nd Edition (2024) Johns Hopkins University Press
College Bound: Everything You Need to Know Before Starting College (2023) by Rahkal C.D. Shelton
A Mindful Way to Live: Tips for Developing a Healthy Mindset for College Success (2024) by Melissa Cheese, EdD

Children’s

The Inspiring History of Juneteenth for Black Girls (2025) by Serena James
Positive Affirmations for Black Kids (2023) by Nia Simone
Happy Hair (2020) by Mechal Renee Roe

Objective

There are three major objectives of The Center’s National Reading Circle:

To educate readers about the important contributions made by African American women
To support the African American authors who have written classic work and/or scholarly literature
To motivate the readers to engage in activism that will create possibilities and improve lives for women and their families

For more information contact Dr. Antoinette M. Rogers, Director of Programs, at arogers@deltafoundation.net.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need. The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta envisioned an organization committed to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and addressing the social issues of the time.

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