The SDCBA’s Exchange on Equity: Anti-Racist Book Club Inspires Dialogue and Action

On May 5, the San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Division hosted its latest Exchange on Equity Roundtable: Anti-Racist Book Club, drawing members from across the legal community for an evening of candid conversation, shared learning, and literary inspiration. Held virtually, the event invited participants to recommend and discuss books, films, and television that have shaped their understanding of racism, justice, and the ongoing struggle for equity.

A Collaborative, Educational Experience

The Book Club was designed as an interactive forum where each attendee could introduce a favorite anti-racist work, give a brief synopsis, and reflect on its impact. This open format fostered a dynamic exchange of perspectives, with selections ranging from classic literature and contemporary nonfiction to documentaries and genre-defying television.

Austin M. Lucas, Esq., Assistant Director of Employment Reporting & Graduate Advising at California Western School of Law and one of the event organizers, described the Roundtable as “a friendly discussion of our passion for anti-racist work, all the pieces that broaden our perspective, and an opportunity to share the art that left an indelible mark.” The event underscored the DEI Division’s mission to promote inclusion, raise awareness of systemic barriers, and actively work against racism and discrimination within the legal profession and beyond.

Highlights from the Reading (and Watching) List

Attendees nominated a diverse array of works, sparking thoughtful discussion about history, identity, and social change. Some of the featured selections included:

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, a novel whose influence on public attitudes toward slavery remains profound.
• Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, blending science fiction with the realities of American slavery.
• The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, both offering sweeping narratives on migration and the hidden hierarchies of American society.
• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, a pivotal work on mass incarceration and systemic racism.
• An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, reframing American history from the perspective of Indigenous peoples.
• The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, exposing how government policy enforced segregation.
• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, both providing deeply personal reflections on race in America.
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X and related biographies, exploring the evolution and legacy of a civil rights icon.
• A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, offering a bottom-up perspective on American history.
• Night by Elie Wiesel, a powerful account of surviving the Holocaust and confronting hatred in all forms.

The conversation extended to the screen as well, with recommendations such as:

• 13th (directed by Ava DuVernay), a documentary on mass incarceration in the United States.
• I Am Not Your Negro (directed by Raoul Peck), based on the writings of James Baldwin.
• Lovecraft Country (showrunner Misha Green), a genre series exploring race and horror in America.
• Judas and the Black Messiah, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Marshall, each portraying pivotal moments and figures in the fight for racial justice.

Fostering Community and Continuing the Conversation

The Anti-Racist Book Club exemplifies the DEI Division’s commitment to education, outreach, and building a more inclusive legal community. By sharing literature and media that challenge assumptions and inspire action, the event encouraged participants to reflect on their roles as advocates for equity — both within the profession and in society at large.

The SDCBA invites all members to explore the compiled reading and viewing list and to join future events that continue this vital dialogue. As Mr. Lucas remarked, “Art can often shape minds when conversations fall short.” The hope is that these shared stories will spark new conversations, and new commitments to justice, across San Diego’s legal community.

For more information about the SDCBA DEI Division and upcoming Exchange on Equity events, visit the SDCBA website or contact the Division directly.