Book Bans Targeting Marginalized Communities Hit Record High in the US
Book challenges and attempted bans in public schools and libraries across the United States have reached an unprecedented level, sparking national concern over the censorship of books that represent marginalized communities. Reports from the American Library Association (ALA) and advocacy group PEN America highlight a surge in book bans, with a majority of the targeted titles written by or about people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, or women.
The ALA and PEN America reports indicate that these challenges are occurring amidst a growing climate of censorship. Unlike previous cases, recent efforts have sought to remove or restrict multiple titles rather than just one book. The reports attribute this escalation to coordinated campaigns by a vocal minority of groups and increasing pressure from state legislation.
These record-high book bans have garnered national attention and drawn scrutiny from advocates who argue that they infringe upon students’ freedoms and constitutional rights. Educators and librarians have found themselves at the center of these disputes, facing attacks or threats for defending access to these books.
Kasey Meehan, PEN America’s Freedom to Read project director, emphasizes the importance of the freedom to read, stating that children deserve to see themselves and their communities within books. She explains that encountering stories different from their own can help children develop empathy and understanding, enabling them to thrive in a diverse democracy.
According to the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, there have been nearly 700 attempts to censor library materials in the first eight months of 2023, challenging over 1,900 unique titles. This marks a 20% increase in targeted titles compared to the same period in the previous year. While school libraries and classrooms have historically been the primary targets for book removal, the reports show a nearly equal division between schools and libraries open to the general public. Incidents in public libraries accounted for 49% of documented challenges, a significant rise from 16% in 2022.
PEN America’s report reveals that book bans in public K-12 schools have continued to intensify in recent years. In the 2022-23 academic year, there were over 3,000 instances of book bans, representing a 30% increase compared to the previous year. Many of the banned books were written by or about women, people of color, or LGBTQ+ individuals and were often perceived as containing sexual or age inappropriate material.
The report identifies 153 school districts across 33 states where more than 1,500 unique book titles were removed during the last academic year. Florida had the highest number of book bans, with over 1,400 recorded cases, followed by Texas, Missouri, Utah, and Pennsylvania.
Conservative organizations have been the driving force behind many recent challenges, advocating for nationwide banning efforts and increased parental control over school materials. The disputes have led to attacks against teachers and librarians who have been caught in the crossfire. Instances such as the removal of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me from a South Carolina school’s syllabus or the banning of an adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank in a Texas classroom have garnered significant attention.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, emphasizes the importance of defending the freedom to read, stating that allowing a select few to decide which books are acceptable puts our rights and liberties in jeopardy.
The increasing number of book bans targeting marginalized communities has raised concerns for the future of education and open discourse. It is a reminder that the fight for intellectual freedom and diverse representation remains ongoing, requiring the active participation of all those invested in the next generation of informed citizens.
