KW Little Free Diverse Libraries

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To celebrate our Pride Month Book Drive, we’ve asked members of the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community to recommend a read for our libraries — and for all of you, too!

First up in the series is Aashay Dalvii. Aashay is the anti-racism consultant for SPECTRUM Waterloo Region and the founder of Rad Riot Books. They have previously spoken about q***r-affirming and anti-colonial literature at the University of Waterloo, the GSA Conference, TriPride, Kitchener Public Library, and more across Waterloo Region.

Aashay’s pick is When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar, the story of three orphaned siblings who are left to raise themselves and each another after their parents die. At the same time, the youngest, Kausar, is charting her own understanding of gender.

Aashay’s work is guided by the understanding that decolonising one’s own perspective begins with seeking out and embracing voices that challenge the status quo. Frequently, narratives from q***r, racialized, and non-Eurocentric immigrant voices are sidelined or misrepresented in mainstream media, despite providing invaluable insight into the larger colonial systems that perpetuate inequities within our community. Rad Riot Books was started with the purpose of challenging imperialism and settler colonialism by providing a safe space where q***r and racialized newcomers as well as curious members of the community could feel empowered to explore these ideas in diverse and anti-racist book selections.

We appreciate your recommendation, Aashay!

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Please consider donating to our Pride Month Book Drive via new or used books or through money for us to buy books. No donation is too small! Help us keep our 12 Little Free Diverse Libraries stocked and running!