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Reading as a Form of Activism

Guest post by author by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

As a middle school English teacher, I am very aware of the power of books on young students. Many of my students don’t really read outside of my class, due to the rise of social media and games, so besides it being an educational experience to read and discuss books, reading is a great way to introduce students to the world and help them learn about their own role in society.

I love diverse books, and encourage my kids to read them! One of my goals in writing my upcoming debut book KAREEM BETWEEN, coming from Penguin Kids in 2024, was to explain the effects of the Muslim Ban in 2017 on me and my community. When I once asked my students if they ever heard about the ban, they gave me blank looks. They had no idea. And I remembered- they were only about 5-7 when the Executive Order was signed.

In my book, I show the Muslim ban through the lens of someone directly impacted by it- but also, I offer hope to the reader. So many Americans protested that ban until the Courts ruled it unconstitutional. And that time of my life, while scary, was also empowering and inspiring. Seeing the First Amendment in action through freedom of speech and protest was powerful and gave me hope and pride.

Through reading stories about the past- students get to read about the history of the world they live in. There are undoubtedly many shameful moments in our own country’s laws and actions- and reading books about these moments shouldn’t cause us to fear them. They should not be banned. They should not be looked at as making kids feel bad.

Rather, these books are a form of empowerment, of activism. Reading stories that show how American policy changed to be better should inspire students to become more involved citizens, to vote, to participate in society, to know and exercise their own rights. And inspire them to make change themselves.

Unfair laws aren’t gone. Book bans increase and basic rights are being challenged all over our country. So many Americans struggle with their health, with prices, with education. Systemic racism and corporate corruption continue. The Earth is suffering. And the strive for justice and peace continues. 

Books are the perfect way to encourage students to educate themselves and become activists for a better world. 

We need to make the change we want to see in this world.

 

All about Shifa Saltagi Safadi:

Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the author of KAREEM BETWEEN (Fall 2024), the AMINA BANANA chapter book series (coming 2025), the picture book THE GIFT OF EID (coming 2025), SPELL IT LIKE SAMAR (2019), HEAVEN AT MAMA’S FEET (2021) and PEPPERONI, PITCHES, AND OTHER PROBLEMS (2021). Shifa shares her favorite Muslim books on her online bookstagram @muslimmommyblog and is an ELA middle school teacher, so books are basically her whole life! Shifa was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents as a young girl. She lives near Chicago (GO BEARS!) with her husband and four children. You can find more about her on www.shifasafadi.com