“The power of representative literature is clear. When housed in an
environment that also fosters positive intersectional conversations and
community, this representative literature can move mountains.
Challenging hate, challenging oppression, and challenging hierarchy is
particularly important at such a transitional moment in our country’s
political history. Allowing tourism and “shock value” to potentially
ruin such a powerful entity as In Other Words is nothing short of a
tragic loss: we need feminism, now more than ever. We need books, we
need readers, and we need these books and readers to both spread their
knowledge and use it to benefit the world. As this Portland staple seeks
to expand its impact, transitioning to become In Other Words Feminist
Community Center, it is our responsibility as lovers of literature and
proponents of true representation to support and advocate for the
necessity of this safer space. It is a call to action for us all.“
Oregon Authors was originally created and managed by the Oregon Authors
Committee of the Oregon Library Association and adopted in 2017 by the
graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University in
order to bring together the state’s expansive and dedicated literary
community.
