Librotraficantes & The Underground Library: the work continues!

Librotraficantes unite in Arizona to deliver over 500 books to the students and underground library.

This past Saturday, SWU held its first film screening of the summer amid the crops growing in the Roots of Change Jardín. We were excited to premiere the first glimpse of “La Obra de los Librotraficantes,” a documentary chronicling the journey of Gloria Anzaldúa, Rudolfo Anaya, Junot Díaz, bell hooks, Paulo Freire, Sandra Cisneros, and others, in book form that is, back into Arizona.

The Librotraficante movement began in response to Arizona’s suspension of K-12 ethnic studies programs and Tucson Unified School District’s removal of books from the classroom. However despite the general “ethnic studies” heading, Mexican American Studies is the only course that is currently prohibited. In other words, it is illegal for teachers to teach these bannedauthors, and those that do will lose 10% funding for their district. Yes, you read that all correctly.

The Librotraficantes or book smugglers have organized the pushback against Arizona administrators and law makers that are trying to deny young people stories about themselves, voices that question what they are told, and just plain good literature. The film seeks to spread the word about what is happening and get communities across the country talking about why knowing and sharing their own stories is important. You can check out trailer here: Librotraficante Trailer

In San Antonio, Southwest Workers Union and the Librotraficantes have set up The Underground Library/La Biblioteca Clandestina as a permanent space for community members and students to access these banned books. The Underground Library, located in SWU’s Movement Gallery space (at 1412 E. Commerce come visit!), houses a collection of the banned books and other multicultural and movement related literature. We are dedicated to keeping books in the community and new ideas flowing. Come by to volunteer, find out how you can get involved, or send us a testimonial about how Chicano & Latino literature changed your life!

Our next event will be a book brunch Saturday, June 23 from 11am–1pm, which will include a reading from Puro Teatro: A Latina Anthology.   

La Obra de los Librotraficantes will be screened again in San Antonio at the Gallista Gallery July 13 at 6pm. Don't miss it!