To my dear readers, as I write this it is early June, and a lot has been happening recently in the world. I know that the landscape of blogging has changed drastically in the past few years. I can firmly say it has for me. What started as a simple shout-in-the-void that allowed me to meet people online to discuss books that I loved has changed into a big community setting. When I first started blogging, it was merely reader-to-reader, and now we are engaging with authors, publishers, and other content creators even more. And due to the nature of the pandemic, we are seeing online content more than ever. Given everything that has happened, I know that many have turned to their own platforms to voice where they stand. I do use Instagram and Twitter occasionally to cross-post some stuff, but I felt that it was necessary to write something here, where basically my position in the bookish community began. I definitely debated with myself this past week if I should say anything at all.. thinking to myself perhaps only a few people will read this, or does it really need to be said, and I'm sure many are thinking that as well, but I refuse to be part of the problem, and I wish to be part of the change that we see in the world.
My blog and all my other platforms will always be an inclusive and safe space for everyone, but I am anti-racist, and not tolerant of any racist views/comments/remarks. This is non-negotiable, and if you choose to no longer support Padfoot's Library, to be quite frank, there is the door.
As a POC myself, I have been witness and victim to too many instances where racist comments have been made, and I have sat there wishing someone else spoke up for me when I could not find my voice. I am learning that I need to speak up for myself more in these scenarios, but also speak up when I see this happening to others as well. We cannot define comments as "lighthearted jokes" when the only person laughing in the room is the person saying them. We cannot accept comments when people say "they don't really mean that" because if you didn't, you wouldn't say it to begin with. Even when these remarks come from family and friends, we must hold them accountable and teach them that their words and actions may be harming another.
I also understand that words of solidarity and advocacy is not enough, and I'm going to be working to make sure that I do the work to read from more BIPOC writers and have my bookish content reflect that. Moving forward, I will also be adjusting how I approach reviews. I am learning that sometimes reviews based on gut feelings or intuitions can hold some hidden biases that we may not be aware of. I am not going to be the intended audience for some books, and to have a review reflect that is not necessarily fair to the writer or the text itself. I am a bit of a mood reader at times, so if a book does not connect with me in the moment, I will not have any reviews reflect that. Rather, I will take a pause and return to the work when I am able to give it my full attention, and my clear and unbiased view.
There have been some talk recently also about removing the work from the author due to JKR's transphobic comments. I do not condone any of JKR's comments, and in light of this, I feel it needs saying especially during Pride Month, that I am also not tolerant of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, and again, same comments apply, if you feel you no longer want to support the blog, there is the door. For my fellow readers who are struggling in light of JKR's comments, if you feel it is necessary to remove the author from the work due to the relationship you have with the text, that is your choice. But that does not mean we do not hold JKR accountable for her ignorant and selfish comments. The world of Harry Potter was a big part of my younger years, often the leading door to many of my relationships today. I understand how HP has shaped me as an individual and helped with my growth, but I also understand that I have grown up past that now. I can acknowledge the role that the text has played in my life and shaping me, and I can also acknowledge that JKR is a massive disappointment to me as a reader. JKR may have written the books that gave us that world and those characters, but what she didn't give me was the midnight book releases where I got to speak to fellow readers, or those moments when I went to see the films with my best friends. Those experiences to name a few are my own, and JKR's ignorant comments will never be able to take those experiences or memories away. She has tainted them, sure, but those experiences and relationships go beyond the world of HP, and as Daniel Radcliffe said recently "if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. And in my opinion nobody can touch that."
As a student, an educator, a reader, a blogger, an ally, and a friend, I am working to educate myself better with learning and also unlearning. I am learning that even good intentions can sometimes lead to fuck ups, but that is part of the learning process. You may think that you need to show up perfectly, but we are still learning each and every single day. I am seeing a lot of toxic cancel culture come out of this, and while in some instances it may be easier to simply cut a person out, I am choosing to put in the time to have these difficult discussions (especially with family), because I feel if it is left unchecked, it will amount to something worse. I also believe that for every opportunity we have to learn something, that is also an opportunity for people to unlearn their unconscious biases. During this time I have been reading a lot, so before I end off, I wanted to share some resources that I have found particularly helpful to me during this time, and I hope that they will help you in some way as well.
Desmond Cole's The Skin We're In - about systemic racism in Canada
Ibram X. Kendi's How To Be An Antiracist
Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give
As always, my door is open to discussion, so please, if you'd like, my email is always open. Thank you for taking the time to read this today, and I hope that you will stand with me to make this a safer corner of the world for everyone, but especially for those that need it during this time. To my friends and readers, I see you and I support you, and I will work harder to demonstrate this.
With love always,
Christine
