Rules and Guidelines

For those who have not read the pinned post that covers our rules and guidelines...


Welcome to SWA Intersectional Book Club.This space is more than a book club, it's a home dedicated to cisgender and transgender Black women and women of color. It's built with books and love. Before you enter, there are some things you should know:
Our general page is where we discuss and share reading material that focuses on Black womyn and womyn of color. Not men of color. Not white women. Black women and women of color.
Here's how we choose the books:
Each month, several books will be pre-selected to be featured, with a Discussion Group event page set up where explore the book by sections. Featured books are decided by original, offline members of SWA. Here is a list of upcoming themes and focuses:
February: African American History Month
March : National Women's History Month
April : Stories of Our LatinX Sisters
May : Colorism
June : LGBTQ+ Pride and Education
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*DISCUSSION GROUP*: This is the space where we have actual discussions about the featured book of the month. Don't worry about spoilers. The book is discussed in sections (i.e. one thread for chapters 1-5, another thread for chapters 6-11), allowing members to ask questions and make comments on certain parts without ruining it for others.
*UPDATE* 3/13/08
As of late, we're still trying to figure out the best way to discuss featured books. While we have not set up a discussion group for March's book of the month, 'Unbought and Unbossed' by Shirley Chisholm, all of our other discussion groups are open with ongoing discussions.
BOOK BUDDY SYSTEM There are some women of color who are unable to get a copy of the featured book. We look out for each other in this community. #NoReaderLeftBehind. If you're in a position to order more than one copy of the featured book (or, you have other books you would like to gift), come to this page and specify which featured book you are gifting.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1965225010185023/
BOOK RECEIVERS If you are a cis or trans woman of color who would like to participate in our group discussions about featured books but cannot afford a copy, please sign up to receive a gifted copy here, and either me or an SWA book agent will find you a Book Buddy as soon as possible!
https://www.facebook.com/events/358477434559378/
BOOK SUGGESTIONS Our suggestions are hand-picked and based on the feedback of book club members, both in the Facebook group and offline.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/313178952511895/photos/…
Safe Space is a where we take all of our non-literary related discussions.
https://www.facebook.com/events/161297317961148/
MEDIA Media is where to go on a rainy day. Audio books, interviews, book excerpts, and reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/313178952511895/files/
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This house is not *just* trans friendly. This house has a candle that burns in the window, flickering out to our trans sisters letting them know, "You're safe to come home". Trans women are women and it's not a discussion in this house.
*This house is built on built on the foundation of the most important SWA commandment. Radical love for all women. This practice requires consistent, unwavering, unconditional dedication to extending all the love, support, and empathy to all the women who are not like you. All the women who do the exact opposite of you. Radical love. It requires understanding and humility. It's because of this commitment to radical love that we NEVER allow the slander, dragging, or disrespect of women in ANY way, at any time. There will be discussions that we have about women that will not always be positive, but it will never be mean (save, that one time I went off the hinges about vvhite feminists and pussy hats). No mean girl shit.
*Women of color live here. Respect that, always. I created this space because I have run out of spaces where I am safe. Most spaces, my sisters are not safe. In here, we exhale. That comes before everything else.
*When you join this community, you have the opportunity to learn, build lasting friendships, and give back. Take advantage of all of that!
*All reading material discussed and recommended will be material written by Black and Brown women. This includes articles, essays, and poems that are featured on our main page and our media room. The only exception will be if a male or white woman writes content discussing women of color DIRECTLY. Even then, it will be posted or deleted at my discretion.
*If you are a white woman, you are a welcomed guest in this house, but, do not leave tracks on our floor. Don't forget to put your dishes in the sink. Don't speak over the women of the house. Don't walk into rooms with closed doors (meaning, if there is a discussion among a group of women of color, leave them be). We are here to encourage your education and growth, but, we are not your teachers. If you have a question, *Google is your friend*. Go to her. She always has an answer. And, think twice before inviting dozens of your friends to our house.
There are going to be more than a few times when you come across material in this space that is totally foreign to you. You are likely to have questions and curiosities. Here is the method we suggest you use to handle these moments:
*Read the material being discussed more than once
*Read the entire thread (sub-thread included)
*Google
You will learn and appreciate this space far more by reading, rather than interjecting on the heart-to-hearts women of color have in this house. There are a variety of 'universal' discussions we all participate in, but there are also many discussions that Black and Brown women will have that relate and affect us directly. Take your time when learning the difference between these conversations. Just because there are no locked doors in this house doesn't mean you should walk into every room.
*If at any time a Black woman or woman of color tells you that you have offended her or crossed the line in any way, game over. Take her word for it. Apologize and humble yourself. We're not here to debate, we're here to learn, grow, connect, and strengthen our minds. We don't need to be taught or inundated with your background stories, off-topic opinions, and/or counter-productive commentary. In this space, we let the literature do the heavy lifting. If a woman in this space tells you you're doing ti wrong, take her word for it.
Stick. To. The. Content. The timeline and threads have to be free of any and all commentary that does not positively discuss the works of Black women and women of color. There are currently 900+ members, over 800 who are active. More people are reading and learning then they are discussing. That means that every comment is important and so is every post. Stick to the topic, discuss the content, and keep the threads as clean as possible. Failure to do this will result in being muted and possible removed.
If you're having a discussion and someone says to you, #booksnotbullshit, that means that the conversation is getting off-topic and needs to be refocused. If you're being told this frequently, you'll be called on it.
What will get you removed:
*Questioning the experience of a woman of color
*Typing in all caps (I hate that shit)
*Centering (centering = making a conversation about you when it's... not about you)
*Commenting an opinion on an article if you only read the title
*Name Calling
*Derailing a conversation
*Dismissing the opinion of a woman of color
*Personal attacks
*Disrespecting me or a moderator
*Accepting a gifted book and failing to confirm that you've received it, and/or not participating in any of the group discussions (moderate participation will suffice. Just, don't take the book and run).
If you witness any of this behavior or are victim to it, please tag myself or a moderator: Meagan Gross Jasmine Blacksher Kate Wight Tyra Gordon Nyta Lofton Alexandra Lyons Ogilvie Andrea Nicole Smith Andrea Engstrom Alysha Rooks Angie Atkinson
This space means everything to me. I put a lot of time, patience, love, planning, and heart into making sure that this house shelters all women, but caters to those who need it most. If you appreciate this house, please, get involved. Donate books you don't need, purchase books for readers who want them, and donate!
HOW TO DONATE
GIFT US BOOKS FROM OUR MAHOGANY BOOKS WISH LIST!!!
https://www.mahoganybooks.com/wishlist.php…
Barnes and Noble Book Club Wish List
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/account/wishlist.jsp…
Please comment below to acknowledge that you have read and agree to these rules. Take off your shoes and make yourself at home 
#BooksNotBullshit
Tami

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