Considering Banned Books

Just like we need to celebrate library cards, we  also need to take a moment to consider banned books. Heck, let’s take the entire week, 5-11 October.

My platform for years has been to promote marginalized authors; to demand authentic, non-stereotypical representation of Black, Native American, Latine, and Asian American people as well as those with disabilities or who are LGBTQIA+. This is essentially the demand for freedom of speech for these authors, that their voices be heard. Banning books written by marginalized authors, or that contains stories from these groups violates their intellectual freedom, their ability to tell their stories. This can be done during the publishing process when LGBTQIA+ authors are told ‘we’ve met the quota of your stories for this year’; it can be done by librarians and booksellers who decide that no one in their community will read ‘these books’; and it can done when political pressure bans books from library collections.

Efforts to ban books have intensified over the past few years. The process may not be covered as much in the press, but books are being challenged and removed to align with local bills and policies. Authors are being disinvited from speaking engagements, or not even invited in the first place. Legislation is being fought in the courts with varying degrees of success.

We knew when this began that this was about more than the books; it’s always about more than the books. Could you please put on my headstone, “it’s always about more than the books”? We knew that this was about intellectual freedom and that it would expand from the pages to silence the voices of marginalized people in real life. We’re seeing anyone who supports Palestine, or who is not on message about the president’s platform losing their livelihood, while homeless/unhoused people and immigrants are losing their possessions and homes in the US. It started with the books and will continue to expand.

So, during this week, we’re going to go back to the books. We’re going to consider what we can do to resist censorship in our libraries, schools, and communities. And, in doing that we have to remember this is about more than the books, that it’s about our democracy because comedians, teachers, broadcasting networks, professors, and librarians get censored, too. So, let’s progress beyond buying books, asking for them in your libraries, and getting a library card.

Suggestions for community members

• Examine your own biases. Know what you believe in and be true to that. ALWAYS.
• Vet the news sources you support for bias and accuracy. I typically use AllSides.
• View the money you spend as a dollar vote for whoever is receiving your money. If they do not support your ideals, don’t give them your dollar/vote.  
• Buy the books from a local, independent bookseller. While you’re there, find out about upcoming author events and plan to attend them.
• Develop your information literacy skills.
• Continue examining local politicians.
• Verify your voter registration so you can vote in your next election.
• Read challenged books so you can have a full understanding of what’s being called to question.
• Thank your teachers and your librarians for teaching you to read, and for instilling a love of learning in you. Many are still fighting the good fight and could use some encouragement.
• Carry banned books that you’re reading everywhere you go, and make sure they’re visible. Place them on your desk or coffee table. Leave them on bus stops or in coffee shops when you’re done.
• Post about the books you’ve read, the authors you’ve met or want to meet on your socials. Don’t ignore the power YOU have on social media.
• Follow on social media and invite the following into your communities.

• We Need Diverse Books
  • PEN America (yes, I know…)
  • Freedom to Read Project
  • Florida Freedom to Read
  • Texas Freedom to Read
  • Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
  • National Public Radio
  • Unite Against Book Bans
  • Authors Against Book Bans
  • Book Riot
  • Amanda McGregor
  • Becky Calzada
  • Malinda Lo
  • A. S. King
  • Emily Knox
  • Kelly Jensen
  • George Takei
  • Lavar Burton
  • John Chrastka
  • Amanda McGregor
  • KC Boyd
  • CottonQuiltsEdi (yes, that’s me!)

That’s a short list just to get you started. From these, you can connect to others who are doing the work to promote intellectual freedom.

Suggestions for libraries/Librarians

• Start/continue inviting marginalized authors into your libraries. Pay them equitably. Add cancellation clauses to contracts so they’re not left without compensation if certain forces cause them to be canceled.
  • If it is impossible for you to invite them in person, ‘invite’ them in by using their quotes to support literacy.
  • If it has been legislated to censor books from the children’s or teens collection in your library, then put them in adult. Still add them to your library! Do not proactivity ban books from your library.
• Hold information literacy workshops.
• Promote banned books by placing them in conspicuous places around your library.
• During books talks, mention books by or about marginalized people as books of similar interest.
• Search smaller publishers for books, rather than just the big 5.
• Carry the banned books that you’re reading everywhere you go. Place them on your desk or coffee table. Leave them on bus stops or in coffee shops when you’re done.
• Post about the books you’ve read, the authors you’ve met or want to meet on your socials. Do not ignore the power YOU have on social media.

It’s not just about the books

Be well and do good

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