With access to knowledge under assault across the country, the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department and the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism struck a blow for the freedom to read whatever you like.
Last week, the departments hosted two banned book giveaways as part of theFreedom to LearnNational Day of Action. On May 3, 2023, FGSS and Shapiro Center gave away almost 100 banned books to students, staff, and faculty.
These actions by FGSS and the Shapiro Center engage the university in a nationwide day of resistance against the banning of books that tell truths about gender, sexuality, and race, said Victoria Pitts-Taylor, professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, who organized the event with Merve Emre, director of the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism.
The books included George M. Johnsons queer of color memoir-manifesto All Boys Arent Blue,Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me,Angie Thomas The Hate U Give,Just Mercy: a Story of Justice and Redemption,and titles by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde and Zora Neale Hurston. FGSS also gave away copies of the graphic memoir Gender Queer, at the top of the list of most banned books in the U.S. for the past several years.
Emre said students responded to the book distribution event with enthusiasm and profound concern. We didnt want to give the books away without a discussion of why each one had been banned, which meant we spent almost an hour analyzing the dishonest rationales of conservative school boards and governorsthe way they code, for instance, writing about both systemic racism and liberatory queerness as inappropriate, Emre said.
National Day of Action was created by the National Womens Studies Association, the African American Policy Forum, civil rights organizations, and other groups to collectively resist actions restricting free speech and education related to racial justice and gender and sexual freedom.
Legislators in states across the nation are weaponizing education. They are not only banning books, but interfering in AP courses, preventing the teaching of African American history and gender studies, and censoring speech. The broader aim of these attacks is to quell movements for racial justice and to reverse the political gains made in recent years by gay, trans and other queer people. These attacks on learning undermine not only education, but democracy, Pitts-Taylor said.
(The attacks are), perversely perhaps, a testament to the power of literaturethat people are afraid of it and what readers can do with words, Emre said.
At Usdan University Center and at the Shapiro Center, students huddled around tables, selecting copies of books that would almost assuredly be removed from Florida schools. Chris Hadley 24 was pushing out as many books as possible in Usdan during the lunch time rush. With books, like the ones being given away, being challenged across the country, Hadley felt what they were doing was vital.
I think the fact that books are being banned is a huge red flag for the way that we think about marginalized people, and about how other people are allowed to conceptualize them. (Because of the bans) they dont have access to their own stories. The books that were giving out are all about liberation, Hadley said.
Hadley had already read most of these books being offered. One of the books had a personal meaning. My mom actually gave me Gender Queer because she heard that it was banned. It was her trying to say, I see you trans kid, heres a book about you. That was really sweet, Hadley said.
For Pitts-Taylor, it was the writing of Alice Walker and Audre Lorde that changed her life as a student. Sister Outsider,a collection of essays by Audre Lorde, shaped my thinking about oppression and social justice when I was still in high school, Pitts-Taylor said.
The banned book distribution day was an act of defianceand of affection for the written word. I love books. I just shoved books in peoples faces. Im excited so many people who came to the table. Im thrilled to see people walking away with the book in their hands. Whether or not they read them, maybe that books going to be borrowed by someone else. Were just spreading them as quickly as we can, Hadley said.
Writers and scholars have the same obligation we always haveto keep teaching, keep talking, keeping getting books in the hands of those who might not otherwise have access to them, Emre said.
Go here to read the rest:
Banned Books Distributed on Freedom to Learn Day - Wesleyan University
- Free Download MP3 Album Sublime - Sublime To Freedom [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2010]
- Braveheart In Defiance Of The English Tyranny! BRAVO [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2011]
- rage against the machine - freedom [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2011]
- Richie Havens, Freedom, (Woodstock) [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2011]
- Dodge Challenger Freedom Commercial [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Twelve Girls Band - Freedom [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Akon "Freedom" 2009 [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Paul McCartney - Freedom (Nobel Peace Prize '2001) [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2011]
- Jimi Hendrix- Freedom [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2011]
- Braveheart freedom speech -- Matt [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2011]
- freedom 101 [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2011]
- Dj Andi and Stella-Freedom(Summer Hit)+lyrics [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2011]
- Braveheart Freedom Short [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2011]
- LOVE PSYCHEDELICO - Freedom, featuring Christopher Yates [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2011]
- Alice Cooper - Freedom [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- "Freedom Rallies" Honored in Williamston — North Carolina Public Radio WUNC [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2011]
- Looking For Freedom - David Hasselhoff [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2011]
- Braveheart - FREEDOM scene [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2011]
- Amanda Knox: 'Another Day Closer to Freedom' [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2011]
- Sugababes - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Freedom River [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Sistars - Freedom [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- All Stars - Freedom (Theme from Panther) [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Richie Havens Sings "Freedom" [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Nokia N8 Pink - Freedom [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom with Lyrics [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Make Mine Freedom (1948) - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Jason Upton - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Devo - Freedom Of Choice (Video) - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- DJ BOBO - FREEDOM 1995 - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- George Michael FREEDOM '90 - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Episode One: Economic Freedom [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- FFVII Crisis Core Soundtrack: The Price of Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Alain Clark - For Freedom (Official Video) - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Bob Sinclar [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- For Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2011]
- Braveheart Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- Wyclef Jean - "Freedom" (Song For Egypt) - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2011]
- Land And Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2011]
- Dan Balan - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- Paul McCartney-Freedom+Let It Be@Concert For New York City - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2011]
- New Life Worship - It Was For Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2011]
- Laboratory pups get first taste of freedom in US. - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Jackson Browne Performs "I Am A Patriot" at Freedom Plaza (12.05.2012) HD - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Give-Me-Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2011]
- Jesus Culture - Freedom Reigns - Video [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2011]
- rage against the machine - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2011]
- Doug Stanhope on Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2011]
- The Beautiful Girls - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2011]
- Michael Heart - "Freedom" - EXCLUSIVE OFFICIAL VIDEO - Video [Last Updated On: December 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 29th, 2011]
- Wham! - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2011]
- Richie Havens 1969 Woodstock - Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2012]
- Freedom ! - Video [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2012]
- Elton John- Philadelphia Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- [M/V] ITAEWON FREEDOM (with JY Park) - Video [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2012]
- Pharoah Sanders "You Got To Have Freedom" (1980) - Video [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2012]
- Freedom Environmental Services, Inc. Signs Service Contracts With 14 Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q Franchisees [Last Updated On: January 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 28th, 2012]
- Pope's peace doves slow to taste freedom [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2012]
- Why is Feb. 1 designated as National Freedom Day? [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- Marcia G. Yerman: 'Chimes of Freedom' Celebrates the Power of Music and Activism [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
- Complaints boss urges UK press freedom [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2012]
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- Underground Railroad Freedom Center battling tough times [Last Updated On: February 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 3rd, 2012]
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- Warship Freedom again breaks down at sea [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2012]
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- End the TSA for Freedom and Human Dignity - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
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- Were Run by Ruthless, Freedom Hating, Dangerous Scum! 1/3 - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Defend our freedom to share (or why SOPA is a bad idea) - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]
- Biden on Internet Freedom Anti SOPA - Video [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2012]