Freedom to Read Month: The Bluest Eye and the Politics of Censorship

Join us for a timely and thought-provoking program during Freedom to Read Month as we explore The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, one of the most frequently challenged books in America, and what its censorship reveals about race, literature, and power.

The evening begins with a brief introduction by Adult Services librarian April Younglove outlining the history and current landscape of book bans in the United States. Then, our featured speaker, Dr. S. Renee Mitchell, a cultural expert and educator, will examine the enduring impact of The Bluest Eye, sharing personal insights into its significance as a work of Black literature and a mirror to societal discomforts.

This program invites open dialogue on the freedom to read, the voices we silence, and why stories like this one matter more than ever.

A livestream will also be available at https://www.youtube.com/LakeOLib/streams

This special event is part of our Freedom to Read Month series. Learn more at www.lopl.org/freedom-read-month-lopl-2025

This program is supported by the Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library.

You may also like the following events from Lake Oswego Public Library:

• Next month, 7th October, 05:30 pm, First Tuesday: Mid-Autumn Festival with Heart Strings Mandarin Music Trio in Lake Oswego

Also check out other Arts events in Lake Oswego, Literary Art events in Lake Oswego, Sports events in Lake Oswego.