Introduction
Book banning can be an action taken against a book based on its content, which can be accomplished through administrative decisions or threatened action by government officials. It can take various forms, such as prohibitions on books in libraries or classrooms. In the most recent months, there has been a growing number of book bans in U.S. school districts; several more popular bans have been driven by new laws and organized campaigns aimed at books on LGBTQ and social injustice. Book banning in line with the moral values of certain groups has recently resurfaced in the US and has affected many school districts and libraries.
Current Trends: The Rise of Book Bans
Many states have already imposed bans related to books and freedom of speech. Texas and Florida are leading in book-bans legislation due to organized advocacy groups and state-level policy. Data acquired by EveryLibrary, a political agency for book restrictions, lists other states that have joined the ban, including Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Utah (“Political Activity”). During the pandemic, the book-banning movement began to gain traction as of April 2023 (Alter 1).
In the NY Times article published in late April, the author stated that bans are primarily motivated and influenced by organized efforts of activist groups and officials, which can affect state or federal legislation (Alter 1). All it takes is for a delegate or representative to look into an issue, support it, and eventually form that idea into reality with their influence. For example, Florida’s governor recently signed House Bill 1557, known as the Parental Rights in Education Act, which “forbids classroom discussions regarding sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade” (Florida Senate). Therefore, recently, book-banning regulations returned to the US legislation efforts.
Historical Context: A Long Tradition of Banning
The phenomenon is not novel to the US, which has a long history of book-banning initiatives. First, books were banned based on religious beliefs, and then materials related to slavery were outlawed (Blakemore). In 1873, the Comstock Act prohibited the possession or dissemination of immoral and obscene texts that included discussion of sexuality and birth control (Blakemore). Therefore, currently imposed bans are familiar to the US and can be traced back to the nation’s formation. The most banned books have Texas, “with 438 removals, followed by Florida, with 357, then Missouri, where 315 books were banned, and Utah and South Carolina, which each saw more than 100 titles removed” (Alter 2). As before, the legislation changes are attributed to the influential groups that define morality.
Advocacy Groups: Mobilization Against Books
Notable groups that began during the pandemic, such as the Moms for Liberty and Utah Parents United, rallied against school boards to ban certain books. It is stated that “members of these groups started showing up at school board meetings to demand that certain books be removed and circulating online lists of titles they found objectionable” (Alter 2). In 2022 and 2023, books by revered authors such as Margaret Atwood, Rupi Kaur, and others have been banned for their works regarding feminism, LGBTQ, and gender.
Librarians are predominantly afraid of acquiring books that are listed as prohibited. However, some of them are organized into groups that are against the limitation of the freedom of speech supported by schools and other educational organizations (Blakemore). This can lead to a new turn in the case of book banning in the US, which can help modernize the nation.
Conclusion
As time passes and our national political divide widens, it will be interesting to see how communities learn to live with the book bannings. Ongoing book banning of activities pressured by parent-organized groups leads to the limitation of inclusive book curricula related to complex topics of racism, gender, and sexual orientation. Many bans are currently imposed, which are the legacy of the book-banning history of the US. Parental groups and results in a reaction on the part of librarians influence it. Some people in such situations will learn to normalize banning campaigns, and others will mobilize or rally against them, which can be accelerated by using the Internet and social media.
Works Cited
Alter, Alexandra. “Book Bans Rising Rapidly in the U.S., Free Speech Groups Find.” The New York Times. 2023. Web.
Blakemore, Erin. “The History of Book Bans—And Their Changing Targets—In the U.S.” National Geographic. 2023. Web.
Florida Senate. “House Bill 1557.” Florida Senate. 2022. Web.
“Political Activity.” Every Library, n.d. Web.