Our constitutional rights are once again under attack, but this time in the form of book censorship. Censorship of literature, both globally and in America, is not a new event, and history has shown us time and time again that it rarely ends well. In the United States, this issue is particularly concerning given our shared foundational constitutional rights, such as the First Amendment. This cherished ideal of free speech now seems increasingly distorted into a justification for imposing one’s own views on all others. The primary censorship regulations now lie in the removal of biased “inappropriate material,” but when half of the population’s racial and sexual identity is deemed as “inappropriate,” the question of discrimination is brought to mind. As someone who identifies with the representations being banned, I know that the denial of these representations can only cause harm.
According to PEN America, there were 10,046 reported instances of book bans during the 2023-2024 school year alone. These bans are not only impacting K-12 schools, but also extending to colleges, universities, public libraries and a wide range of other institutions. As alarming as this is, what’s become even more concerning for many people is the specific types of books that were targeted for banning. In other statistics gathered by PEN America, they found an overwhelming bias in the types of books being banned: 44% featured characters and narratives involving people of color, and 39% included LGBTQ+ characters and themes. This targeted genre of books feels like a direct step backward in the progress that printing industries and school districts have made toward inclusivity and diversity .
I have personally experienced and witnessed the positive impacts that proper representation can have on children whose identities are often underrepresented or marginalized. The exclusion of representation in the books presented to kids prevents them from either seeing proper representation of themselves, or learning about the other identities of their peers. This not only creates a sense of disconnect between these identities and society, but also leaves children ill-equipped and underprepared to navigate the diverse world around them.
What’s most concerning about this restriction of representation is the profound impact it will have on the children who see themselves in the characters and experiences being removed from their shelves. Children of color and those who identify or know someone in the LGBTQ+ community are now being indirectly taught that their identities are “wrong” and deserving of rejection. What do these districts hope to achieve with the bans, given that some young children will now only see characters they can’t relate to or identify with? As someone who is Mexican American and grew up during the 2000s in a household of many different ethnic backgrounds, we felt a deep sense of disconnect due to improper representation.
Many kids of color grow up never seeing characters who truly reflect their own identities, and when they do, those characters are often reduced to harmful stereotypes, negative generalizations and microaggressions. When they are surrounded by only white characters, it leads to the issue that many kids of color go through in trying to assimilate and denounce parts of their ethnic identity to be accepted like the characters they see. This is why proper representation is not just important, but absolutely essential in education. It allows children of color and those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community to embrace their true selves, free from shame or a sense of exclusion.
The list of banned books is absurdly long and some of the titles included are truly shocking. According to PEN America, some of the more popular titles banned include, “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, “The Handmaid’s” Tale by Margaret Atwood and “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie. These works are not only regarded as classics by many, but they also explore vital issues that resonate deeply with young people. Topics addressing racial identities and mental health struggles should not be ignored in schools, or else they will become ignored in society.
Personally, I was a fan of the book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” when I was in highschool because I identified with some of the mental health issues portrayed by the main character. In reading the book I was able to identify and resonate with these struggles that I did not know how to manage at 14-years-old. For this reason, I believe it would be debilitating to deprive kids of representation that they can use as a tool to understand themselves better. The portrayal of anxiety, depression and PTSD displayed through the character empowers young readers to connect with diverse representations and navigate their own personal struggles. Considering the themes of the books in question, none appear to contain content that would justify banning. The primary reason for these bans seems to stem from an unfair dismissal of the identities and struggles of people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals and those with mental health challenges.
Considering the fact that many of the supporters of book bans are conservative advocacy groups, it’s almost comical how contradictory their values have become. Cancel culture has been one of the most recent controversial concepts in our society, and the effects are constantly criticized by conservative groups. Some of the more prominent groups advocating for book bans are Moms for Liberty, Citizens Defending Freedom and Parents’ Rights in Education. While these groups advocate for the rights and freedoms they believe are under threat, they simultaneously seek to impose restrictions on the rights of students of color, queer students, female students and those who are facing mental health struggles.
Given the outcome of the recent U.S presidential election, it seems the push for bans and further restricted material in schools is likely to continue. As a result, school systems can only brace for the tightening of these restrictions in 2025, along with the looming question of which identities and stories will be silenced next.
The books that kids encounter should reflect the diversity of society which means the inclusion of all identities and issues. With the blatant exclusion and denial of these topics through book bans, it raises a critical question: Is this truly about the preservation of traditional values, or is it more about the rejection of everything that lies outside this narrow, specific worldview?
