Graphic of books with a fist and protest in the pages Canva
If you’re looking for hope and there’s none to be found in the news or the government, open a book. Arm yourself with the knowledge and humanity you find between the pages—you’re going to need both.
The 2024 presidential election was held on Tuesday, Nov. 6th, and by Wednesday morning Donald Trump had secured the win.
If you’re a woman, person of color, member of the LGBTQ+ community, or part of the countless other demographics a Trump administration could endanger, your heart probably sank upon hearing the news. I know mine did.
Like I always do when faced with emotions I’m not sure how to process, I turned to books. Literature runs parallel to reality and reflects the best and worst parts of humanity. Books are always political, even the most light-hearted. If they weren’t, the government wouldn’t bother censoring or banning certain works.
Falling deep into the escapism a book offers is a feeling like no other, but escapism is far from literature’s most important purpose. Books exist to spread stories and knowledge, first and foremost. Channeling anger and sorrow into education is one of the most beneficial things to do in times of uncertainty.
Protesting, boycotting, and spreading awareness are all important and proactive ways to voice disagreement with policies or the government. We’d be nowhere without these necessary actions, but we’d also be nowhere without knowledge.
Reading is its own form of rebellion and activism. Picking up a book about the racial disparities in America’s criminal justice system or the fight for transgender equality isn’t just an opportunity to learn, it’s an act of resistance. An ignorant society is easily manipulated and controlled, whereas an educated society doesn’t go down without a fight.
Ignorance is undeniable bliss, and most people are more comfortable that way. It’s not easy to read about the realities of our world and the hardships going on every day. Who wants to read about gender discrimination in the healthcare system instead of a feel-good romance? Luckily, there is room for both.
Reading for knowledge and reading for enjoyment aren’t mutually exclusive and often overlap. This is the beauty of fiction; it can be entertaining and enlightening in equal measure.
“Against the Loveless World” by Susan Abulhawa is not only a decades-spanning story of true love with riveting twists, it’s also an important depiction of a Palestinian refugee who’s trying her best to survive under colonialism.
“Stealing” by Margaret Verble isn’t just a coming-of-age story with unforgettable characters and a plot that keeps you turning every page, it’s a glimpse into what it meant to be an Indigenous child in the 1950s forced into Christian boarding school.
It’s said more and more often that we live in an attention economy. This means we live in a world where the things we give our attention and time to are just as important as what we spend our money on.
It’s important to choose carefully. Do you want to give your attention to the flood of misinformation from news channels or the mind-numbing abyss of TikTok? Does that fulfill you?
Your attention is valuable and should be treated as such. When you pick up a book and learn something or even just connect with the words on the page, you’ve done something good for yourself.
Put down the distractions, learn, and carry the newfound knowledge close to your heart.
The best thing about books is that they are always there. They’re here now, and they’ve been here long before us. Literature turns the tide of history slowly but surely.
For example, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” an anti-slavery novel released in 1852, significantly impacted pre-Civil War America and furthered the divide between the North and the South. It not only impacted society when it was written, but it also supplies modern readers with a first-hand account of times long past.
Books keep history alive and document it while it happens. Like it or not, we’re living in a unprecedented point in history. A convicted felon is going to be president, and his vision for America is one of division, hatred, and regression.
Now more than ever is the time to listen to the people around you. Read their stories; read their history. Don’t let yourself become complacent and oblivious. Read what makes you happy, but also read what makes you angry. Read books that make you want to go out and make a difference.
The next four years are going to be chaotic, to say the least. People are going to try to tear others down and make them feel powerless. Know that knowledge is power, and the best knowledge can be found in the ink of words on a page.