July 23, 2021, 1:02pm
Under its new “Read in Color” initiative, the Little Free Library is partnering with Brilliant Detroit—an organization which provides children educational programming and support in high-need Detroit neighborhoods—to bring thousands of diverse books to Detroit neighborhoods through Little Free Library boxes. Fourteen book-sharing boxes stocked with 2,500 books will be installed in high-impact areas.
According to Little Free Library, the books Read in Color distributes provide perspectives on racism and social justice; celebrate BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers. “It’s critical that families and their children see themselves and their neighbors reflected in the books they read—books that incorporate lived experiences, as well as the experiences of others who may be different,” Cindy Eggleton, co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Detroit, told WXYZ Detroit. “We know when children are able to relate to the characters in the stories they read, they are more likely to be inspired and to excel academically and in life.”
The Detroit Read in Color initiative is just one of several Read in Color locations. Originally developed in May 2020 after Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, the program launched first in Minneapolis and is set to expand nationwide in 2021.