Banned Books Week! Day 6: Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

Banned Books Conversations: Where Radical Readers Discuss Prohibited Prose - join Tonya Todd and her guests as they delve into banned books!

Banned books are works that have been removed from a library shelf or school curriculum. Over the course of Banned Books Week, this series will cover seven different books, the reasons they were banned, and the value in reading them.

Host: Tonya Todd (@MsTonyaTodd & ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://mstonyatodd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Video producer: JP ButlerAudio

producer: Ria Carrogan

Graphics: Mike Burton

Join Tonya & her guests discussing Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez.

Guest Panelists:

Vogue Robinson Former poet laureate of Clark County. Author, writing Consultant, and advocate for the arts everywhere she goes. Works at Left of Center Art Gallery in Las Vegas.

Susan Joslyn Writes software and technical articles, beginning to write fiction, essays, and memoir.

Summary:

Tonya, Vogue, and Susan held a discussion about banned books in conjunction with Banned Books Week. They expressed their concerns about the increasing trend of banning books, which they perceived as indicative of an authoritarian shift in society. They emphasized the importance of reading books that expose us to different people and experiences. The conversation covered a range of topics, including changes in language, the impact of offensive or outdated terminology in literature, and the importance of diversity and inclusivity in publishing. They also shared personal experiences with books that offended or surprised them, and the responsibility of authors to consider the impact of their work on readers.

The group also discussed the importance of education about the content of books and the potential for art to perpetuate stereotypes. The conversation concluded with Vogue sharing her experience with a book that offended her as a child, and how she navigated this.

Find the video versions of each of Tonya's Banned Books on her YouTube channel, Season 2 can be found in this playlist: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonS23Pw8PqMmFcYx2afdJUG4wuAsR-Lh&si=gw_uR5llc_CjtAXg⁠⁠