National Reading Circle

Classic Works & Scholarly Literature Highlighting Women of Color

The DREF National Reading Circle is designed to engage women throughout America in reading classic works and scholarly literature by and about women of color. Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and other women representing diverse backgrounds and professional roles are invited to form a reading circle in their communities and read books recommended by the Sister Scholars Advisory Council.

The inaugural reading selection was IDA: A Sword Among Lions by Paula J. Giddings (2009–10); followed by The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander (2010–11). The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson (2011–12) is the current reading selection. Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and other women representing diverse backgrounds and professional roles are invited to form a reading circle in their community.

The National Reading Circle was recently revived and engaged in virtual events 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.

Non-Fiction

Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis
Feeding the Soul: Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom by Tabitha Brown
The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World by Jessica Nabongo
Black Boy Smile: A Memoir in Moments by D. Watkins
Gullah Geechee Home Cooking by Emily Meggett
Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’L Lewis-Giggetts
Bertha Maxwell Roddey: A Modern Day Race Woman and the Power of Black Leadership by Sonya Ramsey
Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora (A Cookbook) by Bryant Terry
Women of Color Daily Devotional (Summer Edition) published by Urban Spirit and Media Company
The Woman God Created You to Be by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Fiction

Night Crawling by Leila Mottley
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Playing with Fire by Kiki Swinson
The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree
My One Good Nerve by Ruby Dee
In Search of Satisfaction by J. California Cooper
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
Carolina Built by Kiana Alexander

For the Young Readers

Miles Lewis, Whiz Kid #2 (King of the Ice) by Kelly Starling Lyons
Miles Lewis, Matchmaker Whiz Kid #3 by Kelly Starling Lyons
More than A Princess by Delanda Coleman & Terrence Coleman
Mommy, Sing Me a Lullaby by Marci Butler
Goodnight Racism by Ibram X. Kendi
Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry

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 women 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.

Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta has become one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with more than 300,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chartered chapters worldwide.

Learn more about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.