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So what is "Book Banning?"

By Daisha J. & Julia G-M.

What IS it?

The process of banning books, also known as censorship, occurs when, government, organizations, or individuals decide not to place books in schools due to its themes or material. 

In America, this also violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Regardless of this fact, certain limitations are permissible. 

Children's literature is the main target for book banning in the United States. Those concerned are worried that the readers, commonly students, will be influenced by the content of books. 

Where are these bans in effect? (In the U.S)

In Minnesota (our state) there is currently one ban on the book, "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison, in Wayzata Public Schools for being "Sexually Explicit".

Why Bans?

Book-banning supporters characterize the content in these books as “divisive concepts” and claim these books will “inflict emotional trauma on students.  

Within the past five years, there has been a relentless push nationwide for books by Black and Brown authors to be banned from libraries and from school curricula that discuss race and social justice and reveal the truth about the United States racist past. 

It is an attempt by right-wing conservatives to deny and suppress the power, voices, and lived experiences of Black and Brown people in this country. To suppress uncomfortable truths about America in that inequality is a result of years and years of systematic/structural oppression and not an isolated incident. 

Examples of "banned" books

To Kill A Mockingbird was challenged by Glynn County, Georgia in 2001 by a school board member because of the use of profanity. However it returned to the reading list in Muskogee Oklahoma High School later in the year, despite the protests from black students and parents about the usage of racial slurs in the material.

All four books shown above were banned for LGBTQIA+ themes and/or “sexually explicit”

During a Williamson County Commission’s education committee in May, a group from the local chapter of Moms for Liberty expressed their displeassure. The argument being that teaching about the darker aspects of racism in United States history, isn't appropriate in elementary grades. 

Toni Morrison is no stranger to book bans, as shown above -- three of her well known books, "Beloved", "Song of Solomon", and "The Bluest Eye", were all removed from reading lists in some states for holding "graphic & sexual content". I'll go more into depth later on.

"The Target"

Banning books not only excludes a group of people, it also can send the message that one's history isn't relevant. Black and Brown protagonists of color being the biggest category of books that are being banned.

The learning of historic movements in the past that have given rise to racial justice in response to violence and harm being done to Black and Brown people is under attack and books are the building blocks of that learning.

“Today’s fight for truth is part of that ongoing battle for justice. Without truth, there’s no basis for our demands for justice. And that’s why we must fight fiercely to preserve truth. To preserve history in our public schools and libraries to expand our knowledge of history and facts so another generation does not grow up lamenting what they did not learn in school. What they did not learn about who they are, who we are, and all of the possibilities of what we can become”

“The War on Truth: Anti-CRT Mania and Book Bans Are the Latest Tactics to Halt Racial Justice.” Legal Defense Fund, 21 Apr. 2023,

Backlash

School staff who are advocating for their diverse school populations and the need for inclusivity in public schools are being terrorized out of their positions. 

The push for censoring these books has resulted in alarming incidents of targeted harassment, including physical violence threats against teachers, librarians, and other school board members. In many states, school officials have dealt with mobs of people expressing their anger about the “divisive” concepts being learned about in books by yelling, screaming, and flashing Nazi symbols at school board members. Some school board members have even received death threats. 

“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” wrote Attorney General Garland. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”

“Justice Department Addresses Violent Threats against School Officials and Teachers.” The United States Department of Justice, 4 Oct. 2021,

Fighting back

The fight against book-banning include organizing local coalitions and initiatives within their own communities among students, parents, and staff.

Keiwanna Pitts, a high school English teacher, petitioned to keep the book, “Stamped” in her school. Herself, along with co-workers, community members, and students showed up at school board meetings, forcing the issue to the members and successfully prevented the book from being taken off the shelve. 

 Ways to participate include:

buying banned books 

writing a letter to a favorite banned or challenged author 

speaking out to get the public’s attention by talking on the radio, going to protests, or publishing your own writing   

D & J's Analysis

J: I learned that the motives behind book-banning is all about politics and not about what people actually think. Book banning is harmful and an attack on reading, which are the building blocks of learning.

Despite research showing that a large majority of voters actually oppose removing books from public libraries, there is still this relentless urge by legislators to ban books. The power that elected officials have over making decisions about public education is substantial and it can prevail over the opinions of the majority of voters. Banning books goes against the fundamental principle of the right to a complete education and the learning of the truth, that of which are the lived experiences of Black and Brown people in this country.

The implications of yourself not being represented in education makes you feel invisible and doubt yourself and is especially harmful as you grow up from childhood to adulthood. Book-banning is an attack on Black and Brown children’s self-esteem and confidence and a strain on making their wildest dreams seem possible.

D: Going back to what I mentioned earlier, Toni Morrison is one of the book authors that writes about social issues and experiences people of color go through. While her books contain graphic content that may be uncomfortable to read about, it only shines a light on the issues displayed and bring about the harsh realities of the human experience. It brings realism on how something similar is happening to others around you that one might not have known.

Of course parents always do what they think is best for their child -- and that is very understandable. A way they try to express their displeasure is placing limitations on books that are not age appropriate for their children. However it is also important to educate them on the real side of history that doesn't fully touch on the behind the scenes of all the goodness we have today.

Book banning can put limitations on what students are able to learn about and process others ideas. When one is on the outside world, there are no restrictions on social issues or no form on "censorship" -- it is all very raw and real problems being thrown at them, with no idea how to react or deal with them. Ignorance can root from this problem as well, and we know how people react to this.

In conclusion,

we believe that book banning is only promoting ignorance and wants to ignore the social issues (Racism, Poverty, Abuse, Assault, etc.) that people of color face in America. Book-banning doesn't make people of color feel like they belong in this country when they don't see themselves being represented in learning. The pattern of prioritizing the experiences of white people over experiences of people of color is a tactic to ensure white supremacy within the educational field. It doesn't give kids hope of a world of possibilities with no limitations.

So... now that you have some sort of understanding --

SOURCES https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/28/beloved-toni-morrison-virginia/ https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/986/book-banning https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/ https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics https://libguides.law.uconn.edu/c.php? https://chicago.suntimes.com https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-addresses-violent-threats-against-school-officials-and-teachers