As the school year gets underway, the issue of book banning in public schools has once again come to the forefront, with Utah recently banning 13 popular books under a new law. This move is just one example of the many efforts around the country that are threatening to reshape school libraries and limit students‘ access to certain types of literature.
In Indiana, the situation is even more extreme, with teachers potentially facing criminal charges for providing books that are deemed harmful. Last year, Governor Eric Holcomb signed a controversial book restriction bill that made it easier for community members to request the removal of books from schools and allowed for educators to be charged with a crime if they provide a student with a book that a parent believes is harmful.
The push to restrict access to certain books is not limited to Indiana. PEN America, a nonprofit that advocates for free expression, documented nearly 6,000 instances of book bans in 41 states and 247 public school districts over a two-year period. Shockingly, 37 percent of the banned books included characters of color or themes of race and racism, while 36 percent included LGBTQ characters or themes.
This wave of book challenges and state laws that support them has created a sense of fear and anxiety among educators. While Indiana’s law does not explicitly ban specific types of content from schools, it has created a chilling effect that has educators worried about including certain books in their collections.
One Indianapolis author, Leah Johnson, has responded to this threat by opening her own bookstore, Loudmouth Books, which stocks frequently banned titles. Johnson, who writes stories about queer black girls, sees the current surge in book challenges as an existential threat to the representation of marginalized communities in literature.
The impact of book bans is not just limited to authors and educators. Students like Max, a 16-year-old from the Indianapolis suburbs, have also been affected. Max spoke out against a new rule in their local public library system that banned books containing certain content from the children and teen sections. This policy led to the relocation of nearly 2,000 books, including those that represented diverse gender and sexuality identities.
Despite the challenges, there are individuals and organizations fighting back against book bans and censorship. Leah Johnson and others are determined to ensure that young people have access to a diverse range of literature that reflects their experiences and identities. Max, along with other Gen Z individuals, are using their voices and the power of the internet to push back against restrictive policies.
While legislative efforts to control access to books and activities in schools and libraries continue, there is hope that the voices of those advocating for free expression and diverse representation will prevail. It is essential to continue to support authors, educators, librarians, and parents who are working to ensure that all young people have access to literature that reflects the world around them.