L to R above: Tristan Tarwater, Jonathan Hill, Charles Brownstein, Anina Bennett.
Why are diverse perspectives in fiction important? Why are so many diverse books targeted for censorship? What can we do about it? These are just a few of the thorny questions we tackled in the panel discussion “Banned Books: Diversity, Inclusion & Respect,” organized by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF). Our friends at Multnomah County Library kindly hosted the panel twice and even recorded it, so you can listen to it here.
If you’re a librarian, educator, parent, or comic book creator, you may also want to check out the CBLDF’s extensive resources related to censorship, literacy, and diversity, as well as the learning materials and links on our site.
Banned Books: Diversity, Inclusion & Respect
Every year the library celebrates Banned Books Week and the freedom to read. Banned Books Week is an opportunity to call attention to the books most frequently targeted for censorship. Increasingly, books by diverse authors or about diverse communities wind up on the list of most challenged titles. Comic book authors Jonathan Hill (Americus), Anina Bennett (Boilerplate), and Tristan Tarwater (The Marauders' Island) discuss this trend and express a vision for how greater inclusion means a stronger future for intellectual freedom. This panel discussion is presented and moderated by Charles Brownstein of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
