The Office of Equity and Human Rights and the Iowa City Public Library will host a community book discussion of Dorothy Roberts’ book Torn Apart:- How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families – And How Abolition Can Build a Safer World.

Discussion will be led by Abena S. Imhotep, CEO of Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group and award-winning author of Omari’s Big Tree and the Might Djembe.

The Library offers the book in different formats for checkout and will also have a limited number available at the 2nd floor Information Desk for those that register. See Information Desk staff for details.

Ms Magazine has also highlighted this work as a podcast series.

From the publisher: “Drawing on decades of research, legal scholar and sociologist Dorothy Roberts reveals that the child welfare system is better understood as a ‘family policing system’ that collaborates with law enforcement and prisons to oppress Black communities. Child protection investigations ensnare a majority of Black children, putting their families under intense state surveillance and regulation. Black children are disproportionately likely to be torn from their families and placed in foster care, driving many to juvenile detention and imprisonment.”

For reasonable accomodation requests based on disability, contact humanrights@iowa-city.org or call 319-356-5022. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

This program is part of the Iowa City Public Library’s Black History Month series.