Boxcar Books

"This City at the Crossroads" book reading and signing with D.A. Lockhart
2017-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
D.A. Lockhart (IU MFA Alumni) will read from and sign copies of his newest poetry collection from Canadian Literary pubilsher Black Moss Press. This City at the Crossroads explores Lockhart’s time in Central Indiana through the lens of connecting with the everyday and working class of the Hoosier Heartland.
About This City at the Crossroads:
This is the promised land in all its grit and its nostalgic glory, from the shores of the White River to the constellations of an Indianapolis’s skyline. The Hoosier answer to Carl Sandburg’s cornerstone poem “Chicago,” This City at the Crossroads is part love song, part meditation on the things we have to leave behind. Through the emergence of mythic men like Lightning Hopkins, T.C. Steele, and Freddie Hubbard from the physical landscape the promise of place that many see as a crossroads rather than a home becomes the motherland we all wish that we had. The sophomore poetry collection by D.A. Lockhart explores his time at the crossroads and the manner that those around us, from the infamous to the everyman, find their roots in a land that is all too often overlooked in a mad race to be some place or something other than where they should be or what they truly are.
About D.A. Lockhart:
D.A. Lockhart now makes his home in southwestern Ontario. He is the author of Big Medicine Comes to Erie. (Black Moss Press 2016) His work has appeared in numerous journals including the Malahat Review, Hawai’i Review, OSU’s The Journal, the Windsor Review, and Contemporary Verse 2. Lockhart is a graduate of the Indiana University-Bloomington MFA in Creative Writing program and an one-time resident of Indiana that carries his Hoosier connection with considerable pride. He is a member of the Moravian of the Thames First Nation.

Read & Revolt: The Dragon and the Hydra
2017-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
For the next discussion we will be reading – “The Dragon and the Hydra: A Historical Study of Organizational Methods” by Russell Maroon Shoatz
This text is an outline of different struggles against European colonialism and slavery in the last couple hundred years. It highlights the contrasts between decentralized forms of struggle with those that are centralized, and is meant to argue for the effectiveness of the former.
Russell Maroon Shoatz is an imprisoned Black Liberation fighter who was part of the Black Panthers and Black Liberation Army, who wrote this essay from prison.
You can pick up a free copy the text at Boxcar Books for two weeks prior to its discussion, or read it online: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/russell-maroon-shoats-the-dragon-and-the-hydra
This is the last in a series of discussions we had have about anti-blackness throughout September and October. By sharpening our ideas, we hope to better fight against racism and this monstrous society that it is deeply woven into.
Read & Revolt is a discussion group seeking to analyze this society and the potential for liberation from an anarchist perspective. We meet the first and third Tuesday of every month at Boxcar Books, from 7 – 9 PM, to discuss readings collectively decided upon beforehand.

Read & Revolt: A Very Short Introduction to Afro-Pessimism by Isidore
2017-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
“A Very Short Introduction to Afro-Pessimism” by Isidore – This was written to be the preface of the book “Afro-Pessimism: An Introduction.” Afro-pessimism is a theoretical tendency that centers anti-blackness as opposed to white supremacy itself, and explores how the concept of the human is made in antithesis of that of the slave. These theorists re-examine the definition of slavery and the social death that accompanies it in order to demonstrate that this society is structured by the social death of black people, that blackness is defined in this way, and it is impossible to eliminate this social death without destroying the foundations of this society.

For September and October we will be trying something new. Up to now, each text we read would not have any connection to the text before or previous. They were nominated and chosen with no theme in mind, and were simply individual texts that we wanted to read and discuss.
What will be different about these upcoming two months is that we have a theme that unites all the readings. The idea is that the conversations we have can build over the course of four readings, since each text is related by theme. We will try this out and see if it works before committing to doing the same thing for November and December.
The theme for September and October is anti-blackness. We will be discussing where it fits in to perpetuating this society, what it does to both those who suffer from it and those privileged by it, and resistance both historically and in present day.
By sharpening our ideas, we hope to better fight against racism and this monstrous society that it is deeply woven into.

First Sunday Prose Reading
2017-10-01 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
The Writer’s Guild hosts their monthly First Sunday Prose Reading, with featured readers and an open mic.

Education Off the Rails: Basic Digital Security
2017-09-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
Curious about how to stay secure in a digital landscape? Learn how to securely erase files, recover insecurely erased files, & how to turn almost any computer into a secure machine! Bring an empty 4+GB hard drive if you have one.
Education Off the Rails is a new monthly workshop series hosted by Boxcar Books! On the last Thursday of each month, a guest presenter will share their knowledge with anyone who care to learn outside of the classroom.
If you’d like to present in future months, email boxcar@boxcarbooks.org, or message us here!

Read & Revolt: Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance
2017-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
This is the second in a series of discussions we will have about anti-blackness throughout September and October. By sharpening our ideas, we hope to better fight against racism and this monstrous society that it is deeply woven into.The readings will be as follows:
The second chapter of Black Looks: Race and Representation. This chapter analyzes how blackness is viewed by white people as being more intense, authentic, and therefore threatening. A commodified form of blackness is sought after because it is seen as more pleasurable.

Volunteer Orientation
2017-09-17 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis)
Join the collective! We need your help, doing everything from taking on a weekly shift, to hosting events and programs, to helping us keep boxcar clean!

Read & Revolt: Flint Water Crisis and Disposable Lives
2017-09-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
For the next discussion we will be reading “Democracy, Disposability, and the Flint Water Crisis”, which is an essay from the blog Third Coast Conspiracy, which produces anti-capitalist & anti-state analysis about Michigan.
In this text they discuss the history of Flint’s de-industrialization, the Flint water crisis, and draw conclusions about anti-blackness and premature death in the contemporary world.
You can pick up a free copy the text at Boxcar Books for two weeks prior to its discussion, or read it online: https://thirdcoastconspiracy.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/democracy-disposability-and-the-flint-water-crisis/
This is the first in a series of discussions we will have about anti-blackness throughout September and October. By sharpening our ideas, we hope to better fight against racism and this monstrous society that it is deeply woven into.The readings will be as follows:
9/5 – “Democracy, Disposability, and the Flint Water Crisis” by Third Coast Conspiracy
9/19 – “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance” by bell hooks
The second chapter of Black Looks: Race and Representation. This chapter analyzes how blackness is viewed by white people as being more intense, authentic, and therefore threatening. A commodified form of blackness is sought after because it is seen as more pleasurable.
10/3 – “A Very Short Introduction to Afro-Pessimism” by Isidore
The preface of the book “Afro-Pessimism: An Introduction.” Afro-pessimism is a theoretical tendency that centers anti-blackness as opposed to white supremacy itself, and explores how the concept of the human is made in antithesis to that of the slave. These theorists re-examine the definition of slavery and the social death that accompanies it in order to demonstrate that this society is structured by the social death of black people, that blackness is defined in this way, and that it is impossible to eliminate this social death without destroying the foundations of this society
10/17 – “The Dragon and the Hydra” by Russell Maroon Shoatz
A historical overview of decentralized organizational methods of resistance, including that of maroon societies.
Read & Revolt is a discussion group seeking to analyze this society and the potential for liberation from an anarchist perspective. We meet the first and third Tuesday of every month at Boxcar Books, from 7 – 9 PM, to discuss readings collectively decided upon beforehand.
https://readandrevolt.noblogs.org

Boxcar at Community Volunteer Fair
2017-08-26 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Farmer’s Market, 401 N. Morton St., Bloomington, IN
Boxcar will be tabling at the Community Volunteer Fair – come by, say hi, and pick up a volunteer app!

MFA First Year Reading
2017-08-25 20:00 - 21:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
Masters of Fine Arts students in IU’s Creative Writing Program will be doing their first reading.

Marxist Reading Group
2017-08-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2017-08-18 18:00 - 20:30, 2017-08-11 18:00 - 20:30, 2017-08-04 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US

End of Summer Patio Sale!
2017-08-19 10:00 - 17:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
Sweet, sweet summer is coming to an end and Boxcar wants to do a little house cleaning to get us ready for the fall by hosting a patio sale! The patio sale will include everything from super cheap, cool kids books to awesome zines, t-shirts, and discounted books on topics like queer studies, bio/memoirs, and activism. This is a great time to show love and support for your local rad bookstore and community space. Come in and stock up on some great books! We hope to see you there!

Free Poster Giveaway for Welcome Week!
2017-08-16 11:00 - 2017-08-27 17:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
Need to fill some wall space? Stop by Boxcar any time during open hours all week and have your pick from dozens of full color anti-racist, queer, feminist, historical, and anti-fascist posters for freeeeeeeeee!
Perhaps you and an unknown future comrade will reach for the same poster. Grazing hands you look up into each others eyes and see the fires of struggle for liberation mirrored, warming your faces, and you both run off into the night to join others in the fight…

Charlottesville Benefit Show
2017-08-15 20:30 - 23:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
We put together this event to bring together radical communities in light of the events in Charlottesville and raise some funds for a general medical fund for folks injured on Saturday.
Eric Ayotte
Charlie Jones
Byrne Bridges
Fresh Kill
at Boxcar Books. all ages.
doors 8:30 pm, music 9 pm.
$5-$20 sliding scale donation.

Eric Ayotte and Charlie Jones will play an acoustic set that they haven’t played in town yet. Excited to hear it!
Byrne Bridges (queer’d, lo-fi glam pop) will play some old and new songs and maybe some weird covers? https://byrnebridges.bandcamp.com/track/death-song-for-2016
Newer local band Fresh Kill will be playing an acoustic set!

Read & Revolt: Towards an Anarchist Ecology
2017-08-15 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Boxcar Books, 408 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN, 47408, US
For the next discussion we will be reading “Towards an Anarchist Ecology”, which is a series of essays written by the group Knowing the Land is Resistance, who are concerned with deepening their relationships to the land and natural world.
In these texts they discuss their experiences engaging in these processes, while taking on some tough questions regarding their statuses as settlers on stolen Native land, ecology in urban settings, and their attempts to deflate the assumed importance of “expertise” in ecology/naturalist circles.
You can pick up a free copy the texts compiled into a single zine at Boxcar Books for two weeks prior to its discussion, or read them online here: https://knowingtheland.com/category/deepening-our-connection-articles-and-essays/towards-an-anarchist-ecology/
Read & Revolt is a discussion group seeking to analyze this society and the potential for liberation from an anarchist perspective. We meet the first and third Tuesday of every month at Boxcar Books, from 7 – 9 PM, to discuss readings collectively decided upon beforehand.
https://readandrevolt.noblogs.org/

First Sunday Prose Reading
2017-08-06 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
First Sunday Prose reading with The Writer’s Guild! 3-5pm!
Scheduled readers and an open mic.
