The Imperative of Racial Literacy and the Power of Book Talks in the Era of Book Banning & Knowledge Erasure
At Teachers College, Columbia University, the Academic Programming Pillar of the Gordon Institute for Advanced Study responded to this crisis through an expanded Racial Literacy Book Talk Series (2024–2025).
These events centered voices being censored or challenged, including authors like Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, Dr. Oiyan Poon, Jamilah Pitts, and Toni Blackman. The series offered educators, students, and community members a space to reflect, heal, and resist.
These Book Talks weren’t just about books — they were about creating a platform for identity, love, justice, and community.
Facilitated by TC doctoral student Victoria Dumas, the series affirmed that justice work must be rooted in daily practice and always done in community.
As we prepare for the 2025–2026 series, we remain committed to amplifying truth and preserving inclusive education. Below is a snapshot of recent and upcoming featured authors:
2024–2025 Highlights
- Toni Blackman: Wisdom of the Cypher, November 2024
- Dr. Oiyan Poon: Asian American is Not a Color, March 2025
- Jamilah Pitts: Toward Liberation, March 2025
- Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul: Antiracist Reading Revolution, April 2025
- Drs. Francois & Cahill: Identity-Affirming Literacies in Schools, May 2025
Planned 2025–2026 Authors
Barry Goldenberg, Antero Garcia, Breanya Hougue, Omo Moses, Nolan Cabrera, Nadia Lopez, Dawn DaCosta, Mark Gooden, Fabienne Doucet, and more, including a new Book Talk by Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz on The Archaeology of Self™.