Beginning in 1933, the Nazis burned books to erase the ideas they fearedâworks of literature, politics, philosophy, criticism; works by Jewish and leftist authors, and research from the Institute for Sexual Science, which documented and affirmed queer and trans identities.
(Nazis collect "anti-German" books to be destroyed at a Berlin book-burning on May 10, 1933 (Source)
These werenât just books; they were lifelines.
Writing by, for, and about marginalized people isnât just about representation, but survival. Writing has always been an incredibly powerful toolâperhaps the most resilient form of resistance, as fascism seeks to disconnect people from knowledge, empathy, history, and finally each other. Empathy is one of the most valuable resources we have, and in the darkest times writers armed with nothing but words have exposed injustice, changed culture, and kept their communities connected.
(A Nazi student and a member of the SA raid the Institute for Sexual Science's library in Berlin, May 6, 1933. Source)
Less than two weeks after the US presidential inauguration, the nightmare of Project 2025 is starting to unfold. What these proposals will mean for creative freedom and freedom of expression is uncertain, but the intent is clear. A chilling effect on subjects that writers engage with every dayâqueer narratives, racial justice, and critiques of powerâis already manifest. The places where these works are published and shared may soon face increased pressure, censorship, and legal jeopardy.
And with speed-run fascism comes a rising tide of misinformation and hostility. The tech giants that facilitate writing, sharing, publishing, and communicationâGoogle, Microsoft, Amazon, the-hellscape-formerly-known-as-Twitter, Facebook, TikTokâhave folded like paper in a light breeze. OpenAI, embroiled in lawsuits for training its models on stolen works, is now positioned as the AI of choice for the administration, bolstered by a $500 billion investment. And privacy-focused companies are showing a newfound willingness to align with a polarizing administration, chilling news for writers who rely on digital privacy to protect their work and sources; even their personal safety.
Where does that leave writers?
Writing communities have always been a creative refuge, but theyâre more than that nowâthey are a means of continuity. The information landscape is shifting rapidly, so staying informed on legal and political developments will be essential for protecting creative freedom and pushing back against censorship wherever possible. Direct your energy to the communities that need it, stay connected, check in on each otherâand keep backup spaces in case platforms become unsafe.
We canât stress this enoughâsupport tools and platforms that prioritize creative freedom. The systems we rely on are being rewritten in real time, and the future of writing spaces depends on what we build now. We at Ellipsus will continue working to provide space for our communityâone that protects and facilitates creative expression, not undermines it.
Above allâkeep writing.
Keep imagining, keep documenting, keep sharingâkeep connecting. Suppression thrives on silence, but words have survived every attempt at erasure.
baratheonpilled
discoholicmusic
prguitarman
andulkaphoto
areudirty
dededos
izzy806
