Book Banning
Individuals have the right to access a wide range of ideas and information. Book banning is a form of censorship that restricts the flow of ideas and limits individuals' ability to make informed decisions. Of course, efforts to limit and restrict what students, and community members more broadly, learn and have access to is not new. The banning of books and their removal from libraries has been happening since we’ve been writing things down.
As we gear up for the beginning of the school year, keep in mind that Banned Books Week is just around the corner. Held between October 5th and 11th this year, Banned Books Week was first launched in 1982 in response to steep surge in book challenges in schools, libraries, and even bookstores. Per the Banned Books Week Coalition, the week “highlights the value of free and open access to information.”
You can see the most challenged books of 2024 here, and check back for what people are challenging this year – it'll make for a great fall reading list.
Under the First Amendment, public officials may not bar access to ideas simply because they don't like those ideas for political or partisan reasons.
Now, more than ever, we should all stand in defense of free access to information, stories, and honest histories in our classrooms and libraries. The ACLU of NC will continue to advocate in defense of students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and low-income students and defend educational content that will help us all work toward a more perfect union.
Every banned book stands as a testament to the enduring power of words, ideas, and the importance of free expression. In a world that continually grapples with censorship and attempts to stifle diverse voices, Banned Books Week emerges as a beacon of intellectual freedom and literary resilience.
Clay Aiken visited us at the ACLU of North Carolina to emphasize his fundamental belief: that everyone should have the right to explore the vast tapestry of human experience through the pages of a book.
The freedom to read, learn, and explore diverse perspectives is a cornerstone of democracy. However, it's essential to understand the intricacies of book-banning attempts, where it often takes just one individual to challenge a book for it to be considered for removal from shelves.
Our Executive Director, Chantal Stevens, will guide us through Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb," a beloved and powerful poem recited at President Biden's inauguration. This poem, with its unifying promises of a brighter America, is not exempt from these challenges.