Below the Fold - attack on librarians

View this email in your browser

Today’s summaries save you 60 minutes of news reading!

Happy Friday, Below the Fold!

For many, libraries are a safe space where we might enjoy a small community or quiet inspiration from the voices of all those authors. Some might even feel a sense of adventure diving into the various topics, stumbling onto new ideas. In the background are the librarians making it possible for us to navigate the space and filling it with the latest and greatest. But increasingly, these librarians are being scared out of their jobs.

Book Bans Becoming Librarian Hunts
Wed Dec 21

Quiet libraries with their shushing librarians have become a battleground for conservative groups. Back in February, we discussed the sweeping book bans from conservatives. Well, efforts have only escalated as conservative groups hurl death threats and wild accusations of grooming children and pedophilia at librarians. The harassment (both digital and in person) has caused some to fear leaving their homes as well as physical ailments from the stress.

Students who’ve spoken out in favor of libraries say they were met with childish hostility from adults. While these students may somewhat jokingly comment that it’s difficult enough to get students to read books mandated by teachers let alone those outside a curriculum, access to diverse and challenging books is key to helping students learn to think for themselves and find stories that speak to them, especially for those from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Of course, book bans are nothing new, but today’s efforts are distinct. Experts say the motivation may not truly be the books themselves given the level of organization, volume of contested titles, and ferocity of their attacks. In fact, book ban campaigns may be motivated more by politics and monetary gain. Politicians can rally a group of supporters cheaply and easily by simply taking content out of context and calling the whole book questionable. Supporters can then be milked for donations in the fight against the libraries and to increase turnout for elections.

And with 96% of U.S. book bans enacted without any process whatsoever, there’s great concern over how quickly this will erode freedom of speech and democracy. Book bans have been used with similar rhetoric in recent backsliding democracies (Brazil, Hungary, and Turkey).

BELOW THE FOLD BYTES

Food Innovators: Black Vegan Chefs

Vegan food has long been associated with pricey, white restaurants but Black vegan chefs are flipping the story. From jackfruit-based BBQ brisket to breakfast sandwiches, Black vegan chefs across the U.S. are making waves with their plant-based innovations. Some chefs are motivated to bring vegan food to their community which suffers disproportionately from health conditions and climate change. Eating vegan is seen as an opportunity to fight these challenges and maybe even rediscover how Black food has always been rooted in fresh produced and farm-to-table cooking.

>> Read More

Fighting Over Gold And Chanel No 5?

A region of Somalia has been suffering armed conflict over gold mining since 2008. Not only has there been much violence and death, but the same region is also home to ancient frankincense and myrrh trees, important exports that go to religious institutions, medicinal production, and luxury cosmetics and perfumes, including Chanel No 5. Gold mining, however, is endangering these trees by not just clearing them for mining but by blocking crucial waterways in their activity, too. But the miners themselves are hard pressed to do much else when drought has made their previous lives as nomads impossible.

>> Read More

🎬 Action of the Week

Support libraries and librarians with EveryLibrary and learn more about censorship with the National Coalition Against Censorship.

THIS WEEK'S SOURCES

Coda Story:

War on Librarians
19 minutes | 2 weeks ago

The Guardian:

Attacks on Libraries
8 minutes | 3 months ago

Book Riot:

Threat of Censorship VS AI
11 minutes | 3 weeks ago

PEN America:

Growth of Censorship
18 minutes | 3 months ago

New York Times:

Publishers & 2022 Book Bans
4 minutes | 3 weeks ago

ASCII-ING ABOUT THE NEWS

       /|~|\
      / |=| \
     /  | |  \
    |   | |   |
    |   | |   |
    |   | |   |
    |   |=|   |
    |  //A\\  |
    | /// \\\ | jgs
    |///   \\\|
    `         `

Ooh, a book! You rebel, you!

Art Credit: ascii.co.uk

Share

Forward to Friend

Below the Fold

2261 Market St # 4135

San Francisco, CA 94114-1612

Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Below the Fold - attack on librarians

Food Innovators: Black Vegan Chefs

Fighting Over Gold And Chanel No 5?

🎬 Action of the Week

Older messages

bytes that won’t turn your stomach

untangling the web of drug manufacturing

what makes a good leader?

paying is the hardest part

(broken link fixed) math isn’t black and white

You Might Also Like

AI, tech talent, and regional innovation, with retiring WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler

Gift of the Day: A Status Dog Leash

Guest Newsletter: Five Books

Read this. You will be glad you did.

What cephalopods know, and how we know it

It’s Gift-Buying Crunch Time

Placating Paranoia

YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: Banning The Bans

The 34 best last-minute gifts

Weekend Briefing No. 567