During the last school year, over 10,000 instances of books being banned in schools were reported, affecting 4,218 titles. More than half of the banned books featured people of color or members of the LGBTQ community. The bans disproportionately targeted books about certain identities, including people of color and LGBTQ individuals, with 36% of banned titles featuring characters of color and 25% featuring LGBTQ characters. The harmful consequences of this targeted censorship were emphasized by PEN America, who highlighted the erasure of historically marginalized and underrepresented populations from school curriculums.
The ban on books, often led by parents and conservative activists, has been increasing, with the American Library Association documenting the highest number of book challenges in 2024. Last year, more than 1,600 books were banned in schools, compared to the 4,218 removed from shelves. Genres that were banned included realistic fiction, dystopia/sci-fi/fantasy, history, mystery, educational, and memoir. Picture books and books with illustrated content were also disproportionately affected, with 17% of all banned books falling into this category.
Educational institutions receiving federal funding have been at the center of efforts to limit access to information about race, racism, and the LGBTQ community. In Florida, the state Department of Education removed hundreds of books from schools, claiming that they were sexually explicit. Critics argue that restricting access to information hinders learning, promotes discrimination, and prevents students from seeing themselves reflected in literature. As the student population becomes more diverse, it is essential to ensure that all students have access to a range of perspectives and experiences in literature.
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