Washtenaw County is the 8th most income-segregated metro area in the United States, and this wasn't by chance. It was the result of deliberate policies and design that have perpetuated racial disparities. One of these policies was the use of racially restrictive covenants on properties throughout the county. These covenants prevented Black, Jewish, and other minoritized groups from owning or living on these properties.

This year's selection for the Washtenaw Read is How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith. One of the locations that he visits in the book to explore the legacy of slavery in the United States is the Whitney Plantation, outside New Orleans, Louisiana. The Whitney works to educate people about how slavery has shaped our nation's collective history. Join Ashley Rogers, Executive Director of the Whitney, who will give a talk related to the Read and the work that the Whitney does.

Watch AADL staff discuss the 2023 Washtenaw Read, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid.

This event is part of the 2023 Washtenaw Read. The Washtenaw Reads program is a community initiative to promote reading and civic dialogue through the shared experience of reading and discussing a common book. Participating libraries include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Saline, and Ypsilanti. For more information about Washtenaw Reads and previous years' reads, go to wread.org.

ASL interpretation and live captioning were provided for this event. This program was recorded and made available for viewing through February 12th, 2023.

AADL hosts Kiley Reid, author of the 2023 Washtenaw Reads title Such a Fun Age for a talk, reading, and Q&A session. 

This event will feature ASL interpretation and live captioning.
 

ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided for this event. This event will be recorded.

The Ann Arbor District Library is proud to welcome Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner for an online author event to discussion of her memoir, Being Heumann: an Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, the 2022 Washtenaw Reads selection.

Watch AADL staff discuss the 2022 Washtenaw Read, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner.

This event will feature ASL interpretation and live captioning.

This event will feature ASL interpretation and live captioning.

Join Ann Arbor based YA author Patrick Flores-Scott for an analysis of the chapter titled "Sunday: Quinn" – the second of Patrick's three-part review of the 2021 Washtenaw Read, All American Boys.

For all of Patrick's reviews, visit this page.