Annual event honoring forbidden literature led by community literacy champion
Revised Article:
Let's dive into the recent event hosted by Alternative Learning Styles and Outlooks (ALSO), an adult and family literacy group based in Ottawa. This local organization, which supports students with mental health challenges, addiction issues, and housing problems, among others, organized a "celebration of banned books."
Why banned books, you ask? It's no secret that efforts to censor literature have been on the rise, and it's a problem ALSO wanted to tackle head-on. A 2024 study by the Canadian Federation of Library Associations revealed a sharp increase in book challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic, while PEN America reported over 10,000 instances of book bans in U.S. public schools during the 2023-2024 school year.
This censorship trend often targets authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and works about racism, sexuality, gender, and history. ALSO aims to shed light on these instances, inviting audience participation and raising awareness for the voices that have been silenced.
Kim Oastler, ALSO's executive director, emphasized the importance of giving a platform to authors who have experienced their work being banned. "Shutting down someone's voice because of their opinions or stories they tell can make the world a little darker," she said before the April 11 gathering. "We try to bring those voices back into the light."
The event also served to draw attention to ALSO's mission and the struggles faced by their students, many of whom may be unheard and unseen. Event planning took place in December, with fundraising efforts through silent auctions, author participation, and sponsorships.
Dr. Monia Mazigh, a renowned human rights advocate, was one of the authors who took part in the event. She highlighted the nature of censorship, stating, "It's when somebody, a government, an institution, makes a decision on behalf of the general population, that for whatever reasons, a book should not be read." Banning a book is, in her opinion, an act of violence against people's words and a restriction on freedom of expression.
Mazigh chose to read a passage from the autobiography of Malcolm X, an American civil rights leader, which has been banned at various times for discussing race, violence, and politics. She intended for her reading to convey a message of hope, emphasizing that attempts to prevent access to such texts only make them more important.
Ottawa-based author Charlotte Gray, known for her popular history writing, had also been scheduled to attend, but her personal circumstances prevented her from doing so. She shared with Capital Current her thoughts on governments banning books, stating that censorship marks the first step towards totalitarianism and damages the capacity for free thought.
The event took place at Heartwood House in Vanier, home to ALSO and various charitable organizations. By hosting this event, ALSO is shining a light on the impact of book bans, the marginalization of diverse voices, and the importance of freedom of expression.
Additional thoughts: Censorship has always been an issue of concern, but in recent years, there's been a worrying escalation in the book banning phenomenon. This happening disproportionately affects works by authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and books addressing crucial social topics like racism, sexuality, gender, and historical realities. This desenfair treatment reflects an attempt to erase or marginalize voices and narratives from communities that have historically been oppressed or underrepresented.
Moreover, these bans limit opportunities for readers, especially young people, to explore different identities, histories, and worldviews, which is essential for fostering understanding and empathy in society. It also undermines literacy advocacy and educational equity, particularly for those requiring extra support.
These book bannings are a threat not just to the fiction or non-fiction genres, but to the very essence of a free, inclusive, and informed society. That's why organizations like ALSO are crucial in shining a light on these practices, reminding us of the importance of access to diverse literature and the voices that create it.
- The event hosted by ALSO highlighted the recent rise in book censorship, a problem that has been escalating in recent years.
- The censorship trend predominantly targets books by authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and works addressing critical social topics such as racism, sexuality, gender, and historical realities.
- ALSO aimed to shed light on these instances of censorship, raising awareness for the voices that have been silenced.
- Kim Oastler, ALSO's executive director, believes that silencing someone's voice due to their opinions or stories can make the world a darker place.
- Dr. Monia Mazigh, a human rights advocate, stated that banning a book is an act of violence against people's words and a restriction on freedom of expression.
- Mazigh chose to read a passage from Malcolm X's autobiography, which has been banned at various times, to convey a message of hope.
- Ottawa-based author Charlotte Gray expressed concern about governments banning books, stating that censorship marks the first step towards totalitarianism and damages the capacity for free thought.
- As ALSO continues its mission, it serves as a reminder of the importance of access to diverse literature and the voices that create it in fostering understanding and empathy in society.
- In 2023, the bestselling book on education and self-development could be a banned book, highlighting the threat book banning poses not just to fiction and non-fiction genres, but to the very essence of a free, inclusive, and informed society.
