Category: Social Justice
The Life and Death of Abolitionist, Writer, and Civil Rights Activist: Frederick Douglass
A brief look into the life and death of the great Frederick Douglass, a true freedom fighter.
Integrating Libraries and Books
The Jim Crow south not only meant separate drinking fountains and restrooms. It also meant separate libraries and books. Laws and local policies also placed restrictions on what could be disseminated and published. Dr. King–as well as those who worked to build libraries and ensure that they be free to use–operated within this system and sought to get rid of this system.
An Interview with Author Lady Dane Figeuroa Edidi
Edidi is a black trans woman, writer, poet, musician, priestess and performance artist. Her novel, “Yemaya’s Daughters,” is a work of otherworldly fiction.
Dispatches from the Houghton Library, Part Two: Who’s In and Who’s Out?
Are admissions policies at the world’s most exclusive colleges fair? How do they even determine what “fair” is? And does this presence or absence of fairness affect our intellectual freedom?
The Tor e-book embargo and reluctant readers
With the major success of science fiction and fantasy films based on novels recently including The Hunger Games (not published by Tor) and Ender’s Game (published by Tor), I have long thought that science fiction and fantasy was a great “gate way” genre for reluctant teen readers in particular. Therefore, as a librarian and a buyer of Tor’s books myself I would add my voice to those asking Tor and Macmillan to reconsider this embargo.
Is literacy a right? My internal conflict
A federal district court ruling earlier this month which held that there is no clearly established constitutional right to literacy in the United States has reminded me that the various pieces of my background are sometimes in conflict with one another.
Roseanne and the NFL: Free Speech in the Free Market
Do the NFL’s new no-kneel policy and the sudden cancellation of ABC’s ‘Roseanne’ reboot cancel each other out? What are the limits of free speech in a free market?
The “Uncompromising” Compromise of Beaverton School District’s Book Ban
Beaverton School District is creating quite a buzz but for all the wrong reasons. Parents and teachers recently received notice that the school’s superintendent decided to ban Andrew Smith’s young adult novel, Stick, from the majority of its students. Read the letter from ALA and the Oregon Library Association.
NY Backs Down on “Draconian” Censorship of Prisoners’ Right to Read
Although Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the regulation rescinded, a recent proposal and pilot program by New York to severely limit prisoners’ access to reading material raises serious question about prisoners’ right to read.
Pentagon Threatens Censorship of Guantanamo Art
An exhibit of artwork by current and former Guantanamo Bay detainees was recently on display at John Jay College. Because of the unique circumstances of the artists and their artwork, this show caught the attention of the Pentagon, which issued—then retracted—a statement threatening the destruction of these pieces.