Banned Books Week focusing on works by diverse authors
The McKillop Library will recognize Banned Books Week, the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read, by hosting a series of events Sept. 26-29.
This year’s Banned Books Week highlights how censorship disproportionately affects minority authors. According to the American Library Association, more than half of all banned books are by authors of color or contain issues dealing with diverse communities. This year’s events are focusing on banned works by diverse authors in an effort to shed some light on why they’ve been censored.
Blind Date with a Banned Book
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, Miley Hall lobby
Stop by the table to check out a book based on the reasons it was censored (sexual situations, language, inappropriate for age group, religious concerns). Find out what was banned and why, then read your banned book and see if you discover new ideas and perspectives that challenge them. Participants will be encouraged to think about the issues raised in their book and reflect on how losing the opportunity to read their book could affect who they are and will become.
Read Out
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, McKillop Library lawn
Come and listen as members of the Salve Regina community read from their favorite banned books. As the presenters read, think about books that challenged you and shaped your thoughts and beliefs.
Movie Night: “The Color Purple”
7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, DiStefano Lecture Hall
Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, “The Color Purple” follows a black Southern woman as she struggles to find her identity after suffering years of abuse from her father and others. The screening is co-sponsored by the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life, the Office of Multicultural Programs and the departments of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies and English and Communications.
