Category: Social Justice
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Although Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the regulation rescinded, a recent proposal and pilot program by New York to severely limit prisoners’ access to reading material raises serious question about prisoners’ right to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.
Xicanas/Latinas and Intellectual Freedom in College: When Reading is Political
As information communities, as librarians, and educators, information literacy principles and first amendment freedoms are at the core to motivating students in college. Confronting self-censorship, academic development, and the ability to practice intellectual freedom is what Xicana/Latina students encounter in higher education.
![Fiorito, K. Unity Billboard [Digital image]. Retrieved September 11, 2017, from https://karenfiorito.wixsite.com/buddhacat](https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Unity-730x297.jpg)
The Interview Project: A Q&A with Artist Karen Fiorito
The work of advocating, facilitating and protecting intellectual freedoms is important activity, and is often carried out by everyday people. I thought it would be useful to speak with those whose work is dependent on intellectual freedom, and how libraries impact who they are and what they do.
![Kendi, I., & Nation Books, I. [Author Photo]. Retrieved August 7, 2017, from https://www.ibramxkendi.com](https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IKendi.jpg)
The Interview Project: A Conversation with Historian Ibram X. Kendi
One of the benefits of writing for the Office of Intellectual Freedom, this past year, has been to recognize the amazing work done by a variety of people who continually promote and protect the right of free expression in this country. The work of advocating, facilitating and protecting intellectual freedoms is important activity, and is often carried out by everyday people. I thought it would be useful to speak with those whose work is dependent on intellectual freedom, and how libraries impact who they are and what they do.
The Mass Book Banning in Texas Prisons
If we are truly standing for intellectual freedom, which includes the freedom to read, we must also extend our efforts to people in prison. While outrage on behalf of censorship in schools or public libraries is easier in many ways, if we ignore this issue in Texas prisons, we are absolutely neglecting the over 2 million Americans imprisoned nationwide.
The Moral of the Story: Dialogue Cures Didacticism
Last month the question of didactic art in schools was in the spotlight when Shepard Fairey’s “We the People” posters were removed from Carroll County Public Schools classrooms after complaints that the posters were anti-Trump. School officials claimed the posters violated the district’s policy against political speech by teachers in classrooms.
Is Free Basics’ Internet Access Really Worth it?
Is Facebook’s offer of free internet access a boon to schools or a ploy to control curriculum?