Statement on the Censorship of Palestinian Authors and Illustrators

The members of Kidlit in Color are appalled to learn that Palestinian authors and illustrators, including our own award-winning author, Susan Muaddi Darraj, are being censored. These authors and creatives, whom we have featured on our blog, are facing censorship in communities, schools and libraries across the country. Some of these creatives have had books pulled off library shelves, while others have had author visits canceled. 

Kidlit in Color, a collective of diverse children’s book authors, supports efforts to bring books that are representative of the world into the classrooms and homes. Reading about the varied experience and lives of diverse authors builds empathy. For the past decades and in recent months, Palestinians have been dehumanized in the media, therefore instead of censoring their books, we should be amplifying their work and their humanity. 

We call on libraries and schools to continue to support Palestinian authors and illustrators; to display their books on shelves, invite them for school visits, and celebrate their voices. 

We strongly denounce book bans and censorship and speak from personal experiences where our books are targeted and banned in various school districts across the country. We stand with our marginalized creators, as always, and stand with our Palestinian authors, poets, writers, artists and illustrators.

We hope you will stand with us and encourage you to follow and support Palestinian kidlit creatives including : 

Susan Muaddi Darraj (KLiC member)
Hannah Moushabeck (featured on our blog) 
Susannah Aziz (featured on our blog)
Linda Sarsour (featured on our blog)

Debut authors and illustrators:
Aya Ghanameh   Safa Suleiman 
Maysa Odeh          Aliaa Betawi 
Omar Abed             Jackie Khalilieh

To learn more about Palestinian stories, please visit the following: 
https://palestinewrites.org
If you’re a Palestinian writer or illustrator, please visit: 
https://diversebooks.org/wndb-statement-on-supporting-the-palestinian-writing-community/
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