Lirra Visits: The Moon

I was amazed by the books for sale at the café, which I guarantee fellow readers would not see in their neighbourhood Popular bookstore and would find hard to locate even in major bookstores such as Kinokuniya. There were many books featured that highlighted aspects of Critical Theory in Political Science and Sociology, often by authors from historically marginalised backgrounds (just as the café’s website states). The accounts of these authors shed light to social justice movements such as the Rhodes Must Fall. The movement started at the University of Cape Town before spreading to other countries such as the United Kingdom, where students and staff at Oriel College in Oxford called for the removal of legacy of Cecil Rhodes, a 19th century politician and businessman who called for the continuation of British rule in South Africa and who espoused views on White supremacy. Other books drew more on the experiences of LGBTQ+ authors and ethnic minorities or groups disadvantaged historically, and I spent some time browsing through these books, heartened to be able to learn more about their stories and reflect on the progress which has been made in certain societies to affirm their rights (though much more has to be done).