Critical Conversations

Banned Books & the Battle for the Freedom to Read

Kwame Alexander, James Turk and Vickery Bowles

Critical Conversations

Banned Books & the Battle for the Freedom to Read

Kwame Alexander, James Turk and Vickery Bowles

7:00pm

Friday, September 29, 2023

Studio Theatre

60 mins

TIFA’s most provocative conversation series returns. Critical Conversations brings together authors and industry experts in candid conversation to examine the facets of culture and politics that shape the world around us and the books we read. The belief that limitations on free expression happen elsewhere is beginning to feel uncertain. The rise of book bans and challenges in the US is having an impact in Canada with cases on the rise and authors of varying backgrounds seeing their work challenged in schools and libraries. The freedom to read feels like an intrinsic element to our lives, so what do those who oppose the idea fear? And what can those who believe in books do to protect the readers, writers and the books they share? Our panel features author Kwame Alexander, whose own work has been challenged; James Turk from TMU’s Centre for Free Expression; and Toronto Public Library’s Head Librarian Vickery Bowles, whose Book Sanctuary Collection represents books that have been challenged, censored or removed from a public library or school in North America.

This event will be followed by a book signing.

Panel Discussion

How to attend

$19.99

Single Day Pass

$249.99

Full Festival Pass

Students and youth save up to 50% on passes.

TIFA’s most provocative conversation series returns. Critical Conversations brings together authors and industry experts in candid conversation to examine the facets of culture and politics that shape the world around us and the books we read. The belief that limitations on free expression happen elsewhere is beginning to feel uncertain. The rise of book bans and challenges in the US is having an impact in Canada with cases on the rise and authors of varying backgrounds seeing their work challenged in schools and libraries. The freedom to read feels like an intrinsic element to our lives, so what do those who oppose the idea fear? And what can those who believe in books do to protect the readers, writers and the books they share? Our panel features author Kwame Alexander, whose own work has been challenged; James Turk from TMU’s Centre for Free Expression; and Toronto Public Library’s Head Librarian Vickery Bowles, whose Book Sanctuary Collection represents books that have been challenged, censored or removed from a public library or school in North America.

This event will be followed by a book signing.

Panel Discussion

Featured Authors

Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, producer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 39 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night, The Door of No Return, Becoming Muhammad Ali (co-authored with James Patterson), and The Undefeated, the National Book Award nominee, Newbery Honor and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. He is the Executive Producer, Showrunner and Writer of The Crossover TV series, based on his Newbery-Medal winning novel of the same name, which premiered on Disney+ in April 2023.

Read more about Kwame Alexander

James Turk
James (Jim) Turk is Director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University. He speaks and writes extensively on expressive freedom and its relationship to social justice, human rights, and democracy. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, as a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto, and held several senior positions in the Canadian trade union movement. Jim has a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, and was a Knox Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

Read more about James Turk

Vickery Bowles
Vickery Bowles is the City Librarian at Toronto Public Library (TPL), which delivers services through a network of 100 branches and online channels. Vickery is working to advance TPL’s 2020-2024 strategic plan and digital strategy focused on access to public spaces, digital access and inclusion, workforce development, support for democratic values such as intellectual freedom, and development of an innovative service culture.

Read more about Vickery Bowles

7:00pm

Friday, September 29

Studio Theatre

60 mins

How to attend

$19.99

Single Day Pass

$249.99

Full Festival Pass

Students and youth save up to 50% on passes.

TIFA 2023

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