Why It's Important to Read Books by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Authors

By Leslie Quan

This summer, I'm currently participating in two book clubs: an Instagram Virtual Book Club hosted by the Free Library of West Philadelphia (Blackwell Regional Library) and a Diversity Book Club hosted by Saint Joseph's University's Writing Center.

For the Instagram Virtual Book Club, we are reading Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge. Every Friday, a new discussion question based on one chapter is posted on the Free Library of West Philadelphia's Instagram and everyone is welcome to participate. Libertie is about the daughter of one of the first Black female doctors in the U.S. who questions and explores the meaning of freedom.

For the Diversity Book Club, we are reading 4 books from authors of diverse backgrounds. Each month throughout the summer we have been reading a book that explores race, class, gender and/or LGBTQIA+ issues. We have finished reading and discussing 2 books so far: A Burning by Megha Majumdar and The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi. Right now, I am reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, which has been a real page-turner so far. Next month's book is Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid.

While participating in both of these book clubs, I realized how little I have been exposed to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors in high school and even college. In high school, the books I read for my English classes were predominantly written by white male authors. A similar trend became apparent to me during my English courses in college.

For the first time this summer, I read a book (A Burning) written by an Indian author. And for the first time this summer, I read a book (The Death of Vivek Oji) that had a transgender character. I almost feel frustrated that I'm being introduced to more BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors at this point in time because I wish this kind of push for diversity was prevalent when I was in elementary, middle, and high school.

As an Asian American woman, I have never felt like I have been represented in books. However, reading books with gay, lesbian, Black, and Indian characters is so refreshing. Reading books that actually represent real, everyday people from a range of diverse backgrounds made me realize how confined my English-course prescribed reading list was.

There are so many incredible stories out there that are way more interesting than some book that's supposed to be a metaphor for the American Dream. I'm over books that make a big fuss over some green light and I'm bored of books that idolize white men. This year, my goal is to diversify the books I read and seek out more BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors. I encourage anyone who knows how to read to do the same.

Below I've listed a few books by authors who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ or have characters who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+. Please check them out and let me know if you read any of them, I'd love to hear what you think. Also, if you have any book recommendations that are written by BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+ authors that you think I should check out please comment them below!

1. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Indian author)
2. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Vergesse (Ethiopian-born, Indian-American author)
3. Native Speaker by Chang Ra Lee (Korean-American author)
4. Night Theater by Vikram Paralkar (Indian author) 
5. A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies: Stories by John Murray (African and Asian immigrant characters)
6. Henry Darger, Throwaway Boy by Jim Elledge (LGBTQIA+ character)