NPR's Book of the Day: Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Author of Wampanoag History Discussed Her Children's Book and Erasure
Release Date: December 10, 2024
Host: Andrew Limbong & Robin Young
Guest: Linda Coombs, Author of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story
Podcast Series: Race to the Truth of Middle School Chapter Books on North American History
Publisher: Penguin Random House

Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, host Robin Young converses with Linda Coombs, a seasoned author and Wampanoag historian. The discussion centers around Coombs' recently published middle school history book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, and the controversies it has sparked, particularly its brief removal from the nonfiction section in a Texas library. The conversation delves into themes of historical erasure, colonialism, and the importance of accurate representation in educational materials.

Context: Book Recategorization Incident

The episode opens with Andrew Limbong introducing a troubling incident where Coombs' book was not outright banned but was recategorized from the nonfiction to the fiction section in a Texas library. This decision was overturned by a judge, restoring the book to its original classification.

Andrew Limbong [00:02]: "But here's a story about a book that wasn't banned per se, but recategorized."

This action by a five-person county review committee in Montgomery County, Texas, followed a complaint from an anonymous library cardholder. The episode highlights the significance of this decision in the broader context of book censorship and historical revisionism.

Author's Perspective and Book Content

Robin Young introduces Linda Coombs, praising her for her work and probing into her feelings about the book's temporary reclassification.

Robin Young [03:18]: "I would say congratulations, I guess, but how do you feel about just this latest move that your book, which is history."

Coombs expresses her initial surprise upon discovering the recategorization and shares her dismay at the perceived entitlement behind such decisions.

Linda Coombs [03:42]: "I kind of found out that this had happened by the back door... what was more shocking to me was just the entitlement that people felt that they could make such a decision."

She elaborates on the intent behind her book, aiming to provide an authentic portrayal of Wampanoag history and culture, something she felt was lacking in existing literature. Coombs meticulously details the devastating impact of European colonization, including the introduction of diseases that decimated the Wampanoag population.

Linda Coombs [07:09]: "In my book I discuss a formula because I've always heard it was 75 to 90% death rate from that 1616 plague."

Her narrative includes both historical facts and a fictionalized account of a young Wampanoag girl named Little Bird, designed to give middle school readers a personal connection to the tribe's history and traditions.

Support and Reactions

The episode highlights the widespread support Coombs received following the controversy. Organizations like the Texas Freedom to Read Project, Authors Against Book Bans, and the American Indian Library Association publicly defended her work, condemning the recategorization as an attempt to censor history.

Robin Young [07:09]: "A lot of people came to your book's defense. The Texas Freedom to Read Project... Author Theresa Kenney... wrote a Call to action."

Coombs expresses her gratitude for the national and international support, emphasizing the collective effort to uphold historical truth and the importance of educating future generations accurately.

Linda Coombs [08:30]: "I was just overwhelmed by the people that came out nationwide... Anybody and everybody who came out to defend this book. That was just an amazing gesture."

Broader Themes: Erasure and Colonization

The conversation extends beyond the specific incident to discuss the broader issues of erasure and colonization. Coombs connects historical events, such as epidemics that wiped out significant portions of the Wampanoag population, to ongoing acts of cultural and historical erasure.

Robin Young [09:10]: "A Massachusetts museum educator noted the irony that a book about people whose history is being delegitimized and erased."

Coombs articulates how colonization employs various tools, including disease and cultural suppression, to dominate indigenous populations. She underscores the enduring impact of these actions on language, traditions, and the very identity of Native American communities.

Linda Coombs [09:55]: "Colonization is far more than just disease. Disease is one weapon that is a tool of colonization."

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Robin Young reflects on the significance of the recategorization incident coinciding with Thanksgiving—a day that holds deep historical resonance for the Wampanoag people, symbolizing both cooperation and subsequent suffering.

Robin Young [10:32]: "This day for you, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning."

Coombs' story serves as a poignant reminder of the fragile nature of historical truth in educational contexts and the ongoing struggle to preserve and honor indigenous histories. Her book's reinstatement in the nonfiction section stands as a victory against erasure and a testament to the power of community support in defending accurate representation.

Additional Information

Linda Coombs' Colonization and the Wampanoag Story is part of a five-book series by Penguin Random House titled Race to the Truth of Middle School Chapter Books on North American History. The series is notable for being written by the communities and individuals whose histories are being portrayed, ensuring authenticity and respect in storytelling.

For more information on the series, listeners are directed to herenow.org.

Notable Quotes:

• Andrew Limbong [00:02]: "But here's a story about a book that wasn't banned per se, but recategorized."
• Linda Coombs [03:42]: "What was more shocking to me was just the entitlement that people felt that they could make such a decision."
• Linda Coombs [07:09]: "In my book I discuss a formula because I've always heard it was 75 to 90% death rate from that 1616 plague."
• Linda Coombs [08:30]: "Anybody and everybody who came out to defend this book. That was just an amazing gesture."
• Robin Young [09:10]: "A Massachusetts museum educator noted the irony that a book about people whose history is being delegitimized and erased."
• Linda Coombs [09:55]: "Colonization is far more than just disease. Disease is one weapon that is a tool of colonization."
• Robin Young [10:32]: "This day for you, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning."

This episode serves as a crucial conversation on the intersection of education, history, and cultural preservation, highlighting the importance of supporting truthful narratives in shaping informed and empathetic future generations.