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The National Day of Racial Healing on Jan. 19 is a time to celebrate racial differences that make our communities vibrant, acknowledge past wrongs and deep racial divisions that exist in America, and commit to increasing understanding, communication and respect for one another so that we can begin making changes as a community.

The annual observance is hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We at NCW Libraries are committed to advocating for and promoting social justice, anti-racism, and racial healing both internally as we look at our operations, hiring practices, and staff training, as well as externally through our public programs and services.

Here are ways we can all begin the work of racial healing in our families, social circles and communities.

Watch and Learn

Watch the National Day of Racial Healing virtual event on Jan. 19.

Find Books and Be Inspired

The organization We Need Diverse Books has compiled lists of suggested reading to help us begin the journey of racial healing.

Find Books at NCW Libraries

Look no further than your local library to get started. Here are some books available from NCW Libraries’ branches.

Adults  The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, available in printaudiobook, and on Hoopla and Overdrive; and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, available in printaudiobookebook, and eAudiobook.

Teens — Stamped by Jason Reynolds, available in printaudiobookebook, and eAudiobook; and March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, available in print and audiobook, and on Hoopla and Overdrive.

Children — The Colors of Us by Karen Katz; and Anti-Racist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi, available in print and ebook.

Engage Your Inner Circle

Talk about race and racism with your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. When possible, include people from different backgrounds and cultures in the conversation.

Use Social Media

Show your support for racial healing on your social media networks by using the hashtag #HowWeHeal.

Stay Informed!

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