August Book Club with Three Avenues: Soledad Brother

Join us as we discuss Soledad Brother by George Jackson in order to observe and commemorate Black August and its goals.

A little background: Most folks know about Black History Month. And many folks are becoming more familiar with Juneteenth. But…have you heard of Black August? This is a literal question. Have you heard of Black August? Because we [Jordan & Tim] hadn’t. And shout out to our bookseller Lo, for leading this book club and sharing her knowledge with us. 👏🏽

At Three Avenues, we work to amplify stories and voices that have been oppressed, currently and/or historically. We know that includes Black folks. And now, we know that there is Black August – a time to intentionally honor and commemorate the ongoing fight for Black liberation through resistance and activism. Black August is a time to honor the Black revolutionaries, political prisoners, and freedom fighters who have fought and resisted against (and who continue to fight and resist against) oppression. 

This year, we are committing to commemorating Black August by educating ourselves and our community through our August Book Club pick, in-store displays, and social media programming.

When: Sunday, August 17th

What time: 5-6:30 pm

Where: Beermiscuous

We've got copies of Soledad Brother in store, so come by anytime. To reserve your copy or have it shipped to you directly, place an order here.

Having trouble getting the book for any reason? Fill out this form.

"The power of George Jackson's personal story remains painfully relevant to our nation today, with its persistent racism, its hellish prisons, its unjust judicial system, and the poles of wealth and poverty that are at the root of all that. I hope the younger generation, black and white, will read Soledad Brother."

—Howard Zinn, author, A People's History of the United States

A collection of Jackson's letters from Pr*son, Soledad Brother is an outspoken condemnation of the racism of white America and a powerful appraisal of the Pr*son system that failed to break his spirit but eventually took his life.Jackson's letters make palpable the intense feelings of anger and rebellion that filled black men in America's prisons in the 1960s. But even removed from the social and political firestorms of the 1960s, Jackson's story still resonates for its portrait of a man taking a stand even while locked down.

Graphic: Incarceration, Racism, M**der

Moderate: Psychological Trauma, Violence

More content warnings

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Beermiscuous, 2812 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, United States