University News

WIU English Professor Collects Diverse Authors Books for Macomb School District

August 26, 2020

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University English Professor Rebekah Buchanan has the perfect "How I Spent my Summer Vacation" essay just in time for back to school.

Over the summer months, Buchanan embarked upon an initiative to purchase books by diverse authors for every classroom in the Macomb Community School District No. 185. As a result of donations of books, and funding to purchase books, Buchanan, working with Linda Cox, owner of New Copperfield's Book Service in Macomb, was able to obtain more than 160 books for every teacher in Macomb. Donation-wise, that equals close to $1,800.

Buchanan's inspiration came from such organizations as We Need Diverse Books. Her goal was to provide local students with access to contemporary books by authors who are writing and working in the present, and writers they can follow on Instagram, who they can possibly meet and who are writing and illustrating books that represent their lives and experiences right now.

"At the beginning of the summer, the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor caused a call to action in this country that I believe was long overdue. In addition, one of my students at WIU was murdered in Chicago making what was going on nationally hit really close to home. Because of everything that was happening, I wanted to do something that would hopefully last in our community," Buchanan explained "I have always felt that one of the answers to making a difference in this world is through language. Books are tools of activism and education. They are ways we can see and learn beyond ourselves. Because of this I created a Go Fund Me Page asking community members to help support getting teachers books by diverse authors to have available in their classrooms. The community answered and I was able to purchase books for every teacher in Macomb 185. Thank you to everyone who donated books and funding for this initiative, as well as to Linda and Copperfield's for ordering these books to keep this campaign truly local."

All books donated and purchased have been published within the last three years and are from authors of color.

"This drive to get books to Macomb School District was just one way that individuals could help be part of making a difference in our community and supporting our young people," she added.

For educators, parents and others who want to further diversify the books in their classrooms and home libraries, visit rebekahjbuchanan.com/diversify-your-classroom-library/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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