Malala Speaks Out

This entry in the “Speak Out Series” (see also Severn Speaks Out) introduces Malala Yousafzai’s acceptance speech delivered December 10, 2014, upon the occasion of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The text is presented in short sections, each spread out over a few short pages. For each section, a pull-out quote has been selected and is reproduced in large red typeface. Additionally, digital graphics representing the themes referenced in the speech appear in each section: for example, black, white, and red bird outlines accompany the section in which Malala thanks her father for not clipping her wings and letting her fly. The final section comprises a commentary by Clara Fons Duocastella offering background information about Malala, the Swat Valley of Pakistan, a 2005 earthquake in Pakistan which led to stricter enforcement of Islamic laws and curtailment of rights for girls and women, and the 2012 attack on Malala which resulted in her evacuation and recovery in the United Kingdom.

By almost any measure, Malala’s speech is inspiring and certainly accessible to the intended audience. The commentary, translated here from Catalan, will be more useful to adults looking for background material on Malala related to her Nobel Prize. Nevertheless, this speech is worthy of highlighting to a larger audience, and Malala Speaks Out will make a great addition to social justice units.