Celebrating banned books
Students talk censorship, knowledge and the importance of freedom
JESSICA MILLS / ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA
Since 1982, Banned Book Week annually celebrates the freedom to read. Held this year from Sept. 18 – 24, readers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers and journalists have joined forces to stress the value of free and inclusive access to information.
The Washington Post reports that from July 2021 – June 2022, there were 1,648 books targeted for bans by parents, local governments and community organizations, a number that’s more than doubled from the previous year.
An overwhelming majority of these texts are written by or are about people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. According to the American Library Association (ALA), parents of school-age children challenge texts more than any other group, in an attempt to shield children from various ideas. However, school board officials, local and state lawmakers and activists fuel the book-ban movement as well.
To formally ban a book, those who initiate the challenge must completely read the text, fill out a challenge form on the ALA’s website and describe why, how and where the offense took place. The challenge is then presented and decided on in state and local hearings.
Quartz, a global economy guide, reveals that – compared to other states – right-wing political and religious groups in Texas and Florida have banned the largest number of books, especially those addressing LGBTQ+ topics, sex positivity, female empowerment and race.
Throughout her education, USD senior Paulina Smale has her own personal experience with banned books.
“I remember in middle school, a book about African Americans was taken away from the curriculum because it was too ‘harsh’ in language,” Smale explained. “But, in reality I think it was definitely a book that needed to be read.”
Likewise, Smale believes that children should be encouraged to read novels with LGBTQ+ concepts and characters.
“A lot of parents are angered by LGBTQ+ characters in books when in reality, it’s something we should be grateful for — that kids are growing up knowing options and acceptance are out there.”
The theme of this year’s Banned Book Week is “Books unite us. Censorship divides us,” which emphasizes the rights and expressions of all individuals, even those that may seem unconventional.
USD senior Harley Wahl argues that censorship hinders one’s critical thinking skills.
“Rather than censoring what people can intake, we should be focusing on making people more critical of the sources they choose to indulge in,” Wahl said. “We should be giving them the tools to properly read different sources.”
For USD junior Abby Buehler, book banning does not belong in places of education and learning.
“I just don’t think schools, especially public schools, should be sites of political/religious contestation,” Buehler said. “A public school is not your congregation.”Regardless of one’s view on book topics, restricting access to texts censors one’s freedom to expression, individualism and critical thinking – especially books with subjects on race, LGBTQ+ communities, sex positivity and female empowerment.