12 Banned Books
By Sydni Rhody
Award-winning literature and classic novels that have been part of school curricula for decades are being reviewed or outright banned.
Classics like Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Ari Folman have been removed from schools due to so-called “sexual” content, as Anne Frank explores her body and sexuality while growing up. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned for its depictions of racism, including racial slurs, as well as concerns over a perceived “white savior” narrative.
Books featuring themes of identity and LGBTQ+ representation have also faced bans. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, which provides LGBTQ+ sexual education, and And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, a children’s book about a real-life same-sex penguin couple, have been challenged. Meanwhile, books addressing race and racism, such as Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry—a children’s book encouraging Black children to embrace their natural hair—have been banned in some areas due to so-called “anti-critical race theory” laws.
When asked about book bans, English major Arria Haigler stated, “It’s one thing to give a notice about content, but to completely ban it and say no one can have access to it is horrific.”
These bans pose a direct threat to freedom of expression in the United States. In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in Board of Education v. Pico that schools cannot remove library books solely for political reasons, as it constitutes censorship and suppression of ideas. Furthermore, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference.”
Books that address race have also been targeted. Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. has been banned for discussing race, despite containing no sexual content. Other works such as The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, and Thank You, Jackie Robinson by Barbara Cohen have been removed from schools for addressing racial history and discrimination.
Literature that explores themes of sexuality, language, and culture has faced similar scrutiny. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston has been challenged for its explicit language, themes of female sexuality, and use of African American dialect, which some critics deem “rough and unrefined.” Similarly, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood have been banned for their controversial themes, language, and depictions of societal issues, including religious extremism and oppressive gender roles.
As Generation Z enters the workforce, many are concerned about the impact of these book bans on younger students. “It’s sad that these kids won’t have access to the same information I did growing up. We are witnessing history being erased,”said psychology major Janyi Mays.
The increasing censorship of books raises critical questions about education, freedom of thought, and the future of intellectual discourse in the United States.
