Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D., the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, will be our featured author and speaker for the NIH Big Read 2022, an annual event that invites the NIH community to read and discuss a timely book together.
The book of choice is Dr. Kendi's 2019 New York Times #1 Best Seller, "How to Be an Antiracist," in which the author asks us to engage in anti-racist actions towards equitable systemic changes. This NIH Big Read event will build upon recent diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused town halls and listening sessions led by ICO-specific, EDI, and NIH UNITE efforts.
A Macarthur "Genius" Fellow and National Book Award Winner, Dr. Kendi is one of America's foremost historians and leading antiracist scholars. Through his guest lectures, talk show appearances, and his podcast, Be Antiracist with Ibram X. Kendi, he has encouraged communities worldwide to learn about and engage in discussions toward building a more equitable, antiracist society.
The NIH Big Read 2022 will feature community book discussions in September and will culminate with an exclusive NIH videocast event with Dr. Kendi in conversation with Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), on September 27 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Click here for access to the VideoCast event. Please note that the September 27 event will be exclusively for NIH staff.
Unlimited free access to the eBook and the audiobook is available to NIH staff from the NIH Library's OverDrive platform and Libby app now through October 10. It is also available to purchase at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) NIH Bookstore in NIH Building 10 on the Bethesda campus. Click here For details on obtaining the book and about the book discussions, see (NIH-only).
For more information about the NIH Big Read or to submit questions for the conversation between Drs. Kendi and Pérez-Stable, e-mail NIHBigRead@mail.nih.gov by September 21.
The 2022 NIH Big Read is sponsored by the NIH Library, FAES, the NIH Office of the Director, NIH UNITE and NIMHD.
NIMHD, the lead institute at NIH for research on minority health and health disparities, has championed research addressing crucial issues captured in Dr. Kendi's book. Paired with Dr. Pérez-Stable's more than 30 years of research addressing health disparities experienced by communities of color and other underserved populations, event attendees may anticipate an enriching exchange among scholars.
Sign language interpreting services are available upon request. Individuals who need interpreting services or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event should contact the NIH Library at NIHBigRead@mail.nih.gov, 301-496-1080, at least five business days in advance.
