To bring attention to book banning as an equity issue, the Mt. SAC Library and Mt. SAC Equity center collaborated to host Isabel Quintero, the author of Gabbi, A Girl In Pieces. Gabbi has been challenged and banned from libraries in the United States and in this episode, our host Chisa Uyeki and Isabel Quintero sit down for a conversation about Gabi and the power and healing effects of writing and sharing stories, particularly the stories that have been pushed to the periphery.

Book challenges, at their best may seem to come from an attempt to protect, but they are actually an attempt to control. To control others reading and beyond that, others thoughts and knowledge. But the reality is that not reading about subjects doesn't make them go away.

Without access to books that speak to the authentic reality of lives, which include addiction, homophobia, sexual assault, or the impact of unattainable, white centered standards on girls of color, we are still left with addiction, homophobia, sexual assault, and unattainable, white centered standards, but without the solace, solidarity, or opportunities to build self understanding that can be found between the covers of books.

We also miss out on the joy, empowerment, and stories of love and success. We encourage you to read books that have been challenged or banned. Both the library and the multicultural center have collections of banned books for you to explore. We hope you will delve into the lived experiences of people like and unlike yourself, and we celebrate and honor the lived experiences of persons whose stories have been hidden or pushed to the periphery.

Resources:

https://www.isabelinpieces.com/

https://www.instagram.com/isabelinpieces/

Follow and learn more about Isabelle Quintero’s work Gabi, A Girl in Pieces and her many other works.

https://pen.org/book-bans/
PEN America tracks book bans and fights censorship in public schools and libraries across the country.

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/ A campaign by the American Library Association to share information and data about book challenges, support actions against book bans, and provide access to news, tools, and resources.

https://bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org/ Book banning is simplistic- judging books not on their entire content, complex characters, or potential for impact. In response, United Against Book Bans created Book Résumés to help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/

Authors Against Book Bans is a coalition of creators and editors who “stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read.” They support organizing by sharing information on bans, supporting those responding to challenges, and authors who are being challenged

https://bookriot.com/how-to-fight-book-bans-in-2024/

An article shared by Isabele Quintero that provides practical advice on what we can all do to fight book bans.

Run time: 21:31 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE