Samira Ahmed

This Book Won't Burn

Lindsay

The truth is that fear and ignorance are the hobgoblins of small minds and weak hearts.

I love America in the James Baldwin way, in the way that insists on criticizing this nation because I believe we can do better. Because I know we can do better. Baldwin told us to open our eyes to unearned privilege, to systemic oppression, to the truth.

Libraries are not neutral spaces. Nor should they be.

“Fascism wins when we let others manipulate the truth. When we accommodate their lies. When we are silent.”

And why would you ever want to imitate a single thing the Nazis did? I guess what I’m saying is that no one who’s banned books has ever, ever turned out to be one of the good guys.

“Liberty Moms and Dads say they’re trying to protect students. But we don’t need protection from ideas in books, from stories of love or rebellion or the brutal realities of American history. We need protection from fascism and censorship and bigotry.”

Because I treat the concept of self- care like it’s an urban legend.

“Maybe… maybe your tears are for you, though, and not him?”

“You don’t need powers to be powerful.”

“If they wanted to protect us, they’d ban guns, not books!”

“Mon dieu! Students shouldn’t have to be burdened with thoughts of scary books while they are hiding from active shooters in their schools!”

“Book banning has long been used to silence those who want to speak out, those who are unwilling to be gaslit into thinking they’re living in the best of all possible worlds.”

They might’ve promised they’d walk through fire for you, and you realized too late that they were the one lighting the match.

Some scars never ever go away. Some scars remind you that you let yourself get burned. Some scars remind you that pain is a constant companion.

This Book Won't Burn

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