As book bans sweep the nation at an alarming rate, WNDB is working hard to fight back. One prong of our Books Save Lives programming? Resources. This week, we posted a comprehensive guide to fighting book censorship, whether you are a librarian, a teacher, a parent, or a concerned citizen.
“Books are empathy machines—and that’s precisely why the people doing the banning see them as ‘dangerous,’ ” said author Lee Wind, whose YA nonfiction title No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves was on the Chicago Public Library’s 2021 Best of the Best Books List, and has since been banned in Tennessee. “[Books] reveal our shared humanity. And that understanding would threaten the politics of scapegoating, the politics of othering, the politics of fearing marginalized communities.”
The numbers are alarming. According to statistics collected by PEN America, these bans have affected more than 4 million school children nationwide, disproportionately targeting books written by diverse creators. Of those banned books, 41 percent addressed LGBTQ+ themes or protagonists, and 40 percent featured characters of color.
Fighting back is critical, and WNDB’s new resources, developed by Rob Bittner, PhD, are designed to help concerned citizens thoughtfully and effectively counter book challenges. The resources include explainers on how to combat misinformation, mobilize support, and stay informed.
Speaking up is paramount. “The people attempting to ban books in schools, libraries, and bookstores certainly aren’t shying away or being quiet on their end,” said A.J. Sass, whose novels have appeared on the ALA Rainbow Book List and as Junior Library Guild Gold selections. His book Ana on the Edge has also been banned in Texas. “Be active at the local level. Attend school board meetings. Let your voice be heard loud and clear about where you stand on this topic.”
There is still work to be done. “Right now districts are afraid to put the soft censorship that’s happening into the sunlight,” said Stephana Ferrell, director of research and insight at the Florida Freedom to Read Project. “We need to put pressure on our districts to be truly transparent about the immense pressure they are under and why they are taking the actions they have, like closing classroom libraries, removing LGBTQ+ books from libraries without review, and limiting certain works from being included in Black History lessons.”
Looking forward, Ferrell hopes for more resources. “We would love to see the community rally and get the good information about these books out as resources for parents and educators fighting to keep them in schools,” she said. Those proposing book challenges have substantial information on titles, and Ferrell wishes for the same.
“What if we had an easily accessible database of media packets promoting each book: summary, author’s statement, professional reviews, awards/accolades, student/educator testimonials, statistics on how a book like this could help a school engage with underperforming readers, and even successful reconsiderations (where the book survives a challenge)?” she asked.
And so, the work continues. WNDB will keep developing resources, supporting diverse authors, and energizing grassroots campaigns. Together, we can make a difference.
