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STCC Banned Book Community Read: Join Our Community Read!

Join Our Community Read!

The Fall 2022 Community Read of Dear Martin ended on 11/30/22. Please check back here for the Spring 2023 Community Read announcement!

You are invited to participate in STCC’s Banned Book Project Community Read! 

  This semester’s Community Read title will be “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone. Dear Martin is the story of a modern teenager, Justyce, who looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers after his friend is shot by the police. There will be associated events throughout the semester, including a virtual talk from the author on November 30th.

This programming is a collaborative effort from the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the STCC Library as part of our broader Banned Books project. The goal of the Banned Books Project is to spark discussions about censorship in libraries and schools. Unfortunately, Dear Martin has been banned from various libraries. It is one of dozens of books featured in the Library’s Periodic Table of Banned Books display. Read more about Dear Martin and the context of its censorship.

Community Read

The book we've chosen for the community read:

“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone

Book Cover for Dear Martin by Nic Jones.

 

"A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice." - Publishers Weekly

Events

Keep the conversation on banned books going by registering for these related, virtual events. Free and open to all!

 

First Amendment / Censorship Talk, with Dr. Guillory and Professor John Diffley

November 16th, 12:15pm

Where: Virtual Event Register on Zoom

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Diversity Series Speaker: Nic Stone

*Community Read Author Event*

November 30th, 11:15 am

Where: Virtual Event Register on Zoom

STCC Campus Community

STCC Community Members: Sign up to get your FREE copy of the community read!

The Community Read will officially begin on October 31st

Members of the STCC Campus Community (students/faculty/staff) can sign up to get a free copy of the community read. The first 100 people who fill out this form will receive the following giveaways:

  • A copy of the book Dear Martin by Nic Stone
  • Signature STCC Banned Book Canvas Tote Bag
  • Signature Banned Book Buttons
  • STCC Branded items (popsocket, flashdrives, lanyards etc.)

Come to the Library’s reference desk (located on the second floor of Building 19) on or after October 31st to pick up your copy of the book!

General Public

General Public: Ways to get the community read book and participate!

The Community Read will officially begin on October 31st

 

We invite members of the general public to participate. Our official off-campus partner for the Community Read is Olive Tree Books & Voices. Zee Johnson is the owner and founder and is our exclusive source for the STCC Community Read. By purchasing the book through Olive Tree Books & Voices you will receive the following:

  • Signature STCC Banned Book Canvas Tote Bag
  • Signature Banned Book Buttons
  • STCC Branded items (popsocket, flashdrives, lanyards etc.)

We know there are many ways and places to get the book but by purchasing the book from Olive Tree Books & Voices, you will be supporting a local small business, which STCC is all about! 

Olive Tree Books & Voices is located at 97 Hancock Street, Springfield MA 01109. Store hours are: Saturday 10AM–4PM~Sunday 1–5PM. You can also reach them by phone at 413-737-6400 or online at https://bookshop.org/shop/olivetreebooksonline.

In addition to reading the book, we invite you to organize or join a book discussion for your organization, place of worship, coworkers or book group.

Additional Information

All other activities are listed on the Banned Book Events page of our official website. There are many ways for everyone to participate in-person and online, with the chance to win prizes. Please spread the word!

 

Periodic Table of Banned Books Website