Our Newest Little Free Antiracist Library in Walnut Creek

This weekend, we were honored to open our newest Little Free Antiracist Library at 1325 Milton Avenue at the south end of Walnut Creek.

We were thrilled to find the Main family to steward this new library and were moved by their passion to bring antiracist books to their community. With this library, we are bringing young people, friends, and neighborhood residents rich and ready access to books that elevate diverse voices as well as inform and inspire us all to understand and actively dismantle racism.

We know that education and antiracist learning is a continual process. We have filled this library with carefully curated selections of antiracist books that challenge, enlighten, and awaken our community. The books in this library and all of our Little Free Antiracist Libraries, were purchased from Marcus Books in Oakland, the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the United States, with the exception of a few key selections that were generously donated by authors, publishers, friends, and partners. Every part of our process in building the Little Free Antiracist Libraries is intentional, including supporting diverse business owners and artisans.

Once again, we partnered with renowned artist Netsanet Tesfay to transform this library into a functional piece of community art. Net is an Ethiopian-born artist who lives in Walnut Creek and has been a key contributor and collaborator since the beginning of our organization. Her inspiration for this library’s moving design came to her while reading Isabel Wilkerson’s CASTE, which is one of the books housed right in this library. The design includes unapologetically proud Black imagery, black and brown borders and roof, and the interior fabric, American flags, is a powerful reminder that Black history is American history.

We are so excited that we have the opportunity to host this beautiful library and these awesome books. You all are truly changing the world one book, one library, and one heart and mind at a time.

— NICOLE MAIN, STEWARD

This is a timely opening as the conversation about racism in school curriculum continues to dominate the news. Several states have passed legislation to prohibit teaching about racism and diminish the historical contributions of specific groups. In addition, many of the authors and illustrators whose books are included in our curated collection have also been targeted and challenged.

We remain steadfast in our mission to facilitate critical conversations, and interrogate the historical pattern of systemic racism in this country, in order to make progress towards dismantling it. We continue to support antiracist authors and illustrators and proudly showcase their work in every single one of our libraries.

To find this and all of our Little Free Antiracist Libraries, visit our locations page. Come by this library, borrow a book, but don’t forget to bring it back to keep these important books circulating in our communities.

If you or anyone you know is interested in funding or hosting a Little Free Antiracist Library, let us know here.