UTM Library Novels on Human Rights
The UTM library has a vast collection of texts relating to human rights which may spark student’s interest on this topic.
The UTM library, which opened in 1967, is a staple of our campus. Being as old as Erindale College itself, the library is home to hundreds of thousands of texts, including fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as newspapers, magazines, historical articles, textbooks, etc. Many of these are written on various topics relating to human rights.
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai is one of the most well known autobiographies ever written. It tells the story of Malala, a girl who was raised in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. She lived under the ongoing rule of the Taliban—an oppressive group known for taking away women’s right to education, amongst other heinous acts. At a young age, Malala joined her father in speaking out against the Taliban’s rule, which made them a target. At 15 years old, the Taliban raided the bus that Malala was riding home from school and shot her in the head. She was taken to England for treatment, where she survived and continued advocating for women’s right to education. Her activism earned her the Nobel Peace Prize at just 17 years old, making her the youngest winner of this honor to date.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X was published in 1965, and tells the story of the prominent civil rights activist. Malcolm X was born in 1925 and grew up under heavy systemic racism. In his younger years, he dropped out of school and engaged in criminal activities, which led to his arrest and a prison sentence. While in prison, Malcolm decided to educate himself, setting himself up for his life of activism after his release. He famously adopted the last name “X” as a symbol representing both his rejection of his white, slave-given name, and representing his lost African ancestry. He spent over a decade advocating for the rights of black people in society, and speaking against racial issues like segregation and police brutality.
Published in 2014, Indivisible: Indigenous Human Rights was written by multiple authors, with the main writer/editor being Joyce Green. The main theme in this text is analyzing how Canadian laws don’t recognize Indigenous rights being synonymous with human rights. The novel touches on how historically, the rights of Indigenous people were stripped away when they were coerced to sign treaties under false pretenses, and the cultural genocide committed in residential schools. While these practices don’t continue today, the Canadian government arguably hasn’t made a strong effort to reconcile. At present, many Indigenous people are still being prejudiced against in society, are forced off of their traditional lands, and face poverty, all instituted by our government.
