Skip to Main Content

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

All members of the CTX Faculty and Staff were invited to share a book (or two) they have recently read on diversity and inclusion. Scholarly Articles and Essays were also included.

Name of selector

Matthew Bloom

Selection

Review

Love Thy Neighbor is a powerful true story about a Muslim doctor’s service to small-town America and the hope of overcoming the country’s climate of hostility and fear. In 2013, Dr. Ayaz Virji left a comfortable job at an East Coast hospital and moved to a town of 1,400 in Minnesota, feeling called to address the shortage of doctors in rural America. But in 2016, this decision was tested when the reliably blue, working-class county swung for Donald Trump. Virji watched in horror as his children faced anti-Muslim remarks at school and some of his most loyal patients began questioning whether he belonged in the community.

The issues and culture of rural America are familiar to me, and I was intrigued by Dr. Virji's experiences. I read it because I wanted to know more about the experiences of those considered "Other" in their communities.

Everyone is different, and we too often look at our differences instead of our similarities. This book helps us understand more about our similarities as people and understand how others feel in a diverse community.

Contact info list and link to DEI ILL request form

All materials copyright Concordia University Texas. Written permission to publish or display reproductions of materials held by Concordia University Texas must be secured from Concordia as owner of the physical property. For more information, please contact library@concordia.edu.