Current CRP selection ties in with national issues

For more than a decade, Grand Valley's Community Reading Project has provided the campus and West Michigan communities with good books that focus on relevant, cultural issues.

The current selection, "The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas," by journalist Anand Giridharadas is no different. In fact, it became more relevant after the presidential election. CRP organizers expect the book and author visit to have tremendous impact on campus as it deals with immigration, white nationalism and Islamophobia.

"These issues surged in national discussions during the election," said Jennifer Jameslyn, director of Integrative Learning and Advising and coordinator of the CRP committee.

Giridharadas, New York Times columnist, has appeared on MSNBC, CNN and other national outlets before and after the election. "He has talked about the need for a deeper understanding of and empathy for poor and marginalized Americans," Jameslyn said. He is scheduled to give presentations on campus March 23 and in Holland on March 22.

His book is the true story of Raisuddin Bhuiyan, a Bangladesh Air Force officer who dreams of immigrating to America and working in technology. After September 11, Bhuiyan is shot and nearly killed in Dallas by Mark Stroman, an avowed "American terrorist." Stroman is arrested and placed on death row in Texas.

Abhishek Ghosh, assistant professor of religious studies, is among many faculty members who will incorporate "The True American" into their winter semester courses. Ghosh will teach REL 300, "Contemporary Theories and Issues in the Study of Religion." He said the book is a case study as many Americans do not understand the diversity of Islam. The class fits the theme, "Religion, Violence and Terrorism."

"They may mistake a fundamentalist Salafist interpretation of Islam to be representative of an entire religion of 1.7 billion people," Ghosh said. "Just as the Westboro Baptist Church or similar organizations do not represent Christianity, most Muslims do not engage in violence. This book is a case in point." 

Ghosh plans to bring his class to the author lecture and said it will "bring the text of the book alive for students."

Faculty members can still add the book to their winter semester orders, Jameslyn said, by contacting the Laker Store. She said many sections of Liberal Studies courses also plan to use it in classes.