Angie Mandell
Copy Editor
Whether you love to read or haven’t picked up a book since a professor forced you to, we need to talk about what is going on with literature lately: banned books. Some people think that this is just an issue for book nerds and those in the literature world to worry about, but the banning of books is something that will and already is affecting all of society across America.
Haven’t heard? Well, I’ll explain what’s going on: politicians, school districts and libraries (primarily in the South, but scattered across the country as well) are deciding that we should not be allowed to read about certain topics. Much of their reasoning concerns children and topics that may be seen as “inappropriate” for their age group, but as we take a closer look at the titles they’ve banned, their clear intentions reveal themselves: censorship and control of any age group, gender identity, race, sexuality, or even religion.
We can all agree that a kindergartener should not be reading books about violence, but the banned books movement takes that stance and absolutely abuses and twists it in an attempt to divert America’s eyes from the fact that their rights and freedoms are being ignored. The politicians that will most definitely use banning books to forward their presidential campaigns don’t just want America’s children to stop reading about violence, but they want to shield them from topics that might be hard to hear, but are essential to understand in order to create a more inclusive society.
They love to say it’s all about kids, kids, kids, but books are being banned across entire school districts. Sure, K through maybe second grade students need some sugar-coating on almost anything, but as you move up in grade level, you develop your mind and understanding of the world. There is an appropriate age for everything, but by banning books, you as a reader, thinker, and human being are shielded from these topics at all ages.
History classes get more difficult and detailed as we move up in grade levels, just as English classes do. But just as reading levels increase in difficulty, inevitably, so do the topics. Humanity isn’t and hasn’t always been pretty; it is just as important to understand all sides of society in order to shape our future into an equal and inclusive place unlike it has been throughout history.
It’s coming across that these pro-banned books individuals are afraid of Americans learning the true, oppressive, discriminatory and harsh side to the real history of this country. Do they support it? It certainly seems so as they take away any materials that can aid growth and equality.
The ironic part about the banned books movement is that books that are in no way, shape or form violent, discriminatory or intense are still getting banned. From fantasy books about magic, to simple, sweet love stories, the titles that are getting banned just prove the point further that this isn’t about safety; it is about discrimination and censorship.
Why do they want to ban books that depict what slavery was actually like in contrast to our white-washed history books? Why do they want to ban LGBTQ+ books that express a history of a group of people that has been hidden out of homophobia for so long? Why do they want to ban books that allow someone to express themselves freely and understand their identity? Because they don’t like change.
They don’t like it, so you must not like it either, right? Wrong. Banning books is a direct infringement of your rights as an American, and a human being with a mind for that matter. Just because an old Christian white man doesn’t want boys to love boys doesn’t mean he can censor society from reading about a love story between two men. Just because a racist, who of course doesn’t want to sound like a racist, doesn’t want children of any race reading about Black history doesn’t mean they can make texts that challenge racism and discrimination that was rooted in white America illegal.
The laws of our land call for a separation of church and state, and I am sick and tired of religious excuses for banning books being forced down our throats. LGBTQ+ are getting banned because they apparently go against God…who asked? Don’t be shocked that people who aren’t religious don’t care. Let me read my book. If YOU don’t like it, don’t read it. You still have your free will while you repress mine, don’t you?
The tougher titles will help us as a society learn from our mistakes and create a healthy, compassionate future for humans. The lighter reads will spread joy to many groups of people who haven’t been able to see themselves in books before. Why don’t you want children to read books that will help them figure out and understand their identity? Not because you’re protecting them, not because you know what’s good for them, because you’re homophobic, sexist, need I continue?
Stepping down from my soapbox, I’ll leave you with this: read banned books. Buy them, support the authors. Rent them out of your local library (if it hasn’t fallen victim to this oppressive epidemic) and keep it afloat. I won’t say they’ll all be easy to read, many may have trigger warnings, but after reading and understanding the good and the bad of society, we will all be one step closer to equality rooted in understanding and compassion for one another, no matter our identities.
