According to NPR, “white voices have dominated what has been considered canon for eons.” The public broadcaster advises fans to begin “decolonizing your bookshelf” by removing the works of white authors.
NPR suggests that “decolonizing your bookshelf” is about “about actively resisting and casting aside the colonialist ideas of narrative, storytelling, and literature that have pervaded the American psyche for so long.”
They posit:
If you are white, take a moment to examine your bookshelf. What do you see? What books and authors have you allowed to influence your worldview, and how you process the issues of racism and prejudice toward the disenfranchised? Have you considered that, if you identify as white and read only the work of white authors, you are in some ways listening to an extension of your own voice on repeat? While the details and depth of experience may differ, white voices have dominated what has been considered canon for eons.
On April 14, 2017, the Daily Beast referred to book burning as “perhaps the oldest form of censorship.”
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26 comments:
Keep black authors along with Jewish authors
This is so ridiculous. What, we are supposed to replace with books written by black authors? One must be literate to write in the first place.
NPR
No
Person
Reads
We need to stop giving NPR money.
And there isn't a thing wrong with what NPR is saying. Based off what I see here daily, most of you are not thorough readers, so just move on. NPR was NOT speaking to you. lol
That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Through no fault of their own most black and brown residents of the newly formed United States could neither read nor write. How were they supposed to author tomes?
And we as taxpaying citizens are funding them to do this to us, UNBELIEVABLE
Good Grief.
If we are wiping things away per say....I want a do over then.
Lets rewind back to Dec 31, 2019. Cancel NYE and close the borders the from all foreign aircraft. US knew then what was happening in CHINA but didn't see Europe.
Why? Well everyone monday morning QBs now OR like NPR opined - look at yourself and if you are too white do away...YAP YAP YAP.
I don't know this world anymore and thats scary.
8:05 truly one of the most ignorant things I have read. Blatant racism right on your blog Joe.
Like it or not white people have colonized, monetized and destroyed cultures throughout history. When you are the one in power you get to write the history books. Why not let the people who actually experienced it teach? The westward expansion of America, for example, is often taught like some patriotic tale of bravado and not the true trail of tears it was. British colonialism is facing a lot of backlash from the citizens at the moment too. People are starting to wake up and demand that everyone's voice be heard.
8:11 I couldn't agree more. I would bet that the majority of the people commenting don't have a bookshelf in their homes lol
Defund NPR
I used to support NPR for covering a different point of view but that was many years back when there was some balance. Many years.
But I'm kinda on board with this, except I'd argue that any writer of color who lives in the US and was raised in the US has been irredeemably tainted by the experience and can't write with true voice. So either my current library goes in toto, or I have to restock with solely African authors. One might be Alan Paton's 'Cry, The Beloved Country.'
In like vein, until NPR ditches all its white and US raised staff and on-air mouthpieces, and has only native Africans employed, how can I trust and fully engage in their suggestion?
/sarc partially. The book is actual, by a white South African in the time of Apartheid; my copy is over 50 years old.
They are saying that all white people think exactly the same??? So by extension, all people of color think the same also? I think a lot of people of color would disagree!
Moving on past this story is warranted.
Let's see,countries that banned/burned books. How did that work out?
Stop paying federal taxes
Because they wont stick to the basics, reading, writing and math. Remember per democrats math is racist and school is too hard
This is all so blatantly racist. F-k NPR, BLM, DNC etc, etc.
You have these cuckolds telling us what to do? I thought we fought a war to stop this petty bull of others telling us how to live our lives.
They should not be getting any tax dollars, state or federal, then since this blatant discrimination.
Guys don't worry! This won't affect your picture books at all!
Sad thing is, we have a new topic or “crisis “ each day. You wake up and during the day you hear of some stupid chit. Just when up think it’s time to level off........ something else the next day. Ext., etc., .....
Truth always hurts uh snowflake??
8:14...it's that racism right there that is why nobody gets along..stupid POS..smh
um, dear NPR.... after due consideration my response is - NO -
I'll read what I want, when I want
1106 winner of best comment. LOLx2
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