Banned Books Week 2024 began yesterday and runs through next Saturday, September 28. Sadly, the event is all the more important as waves of book bannings continue in many parts of the country. As Banned Books Week notes, attempts to censor books rose 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest level ever tracked by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. The Office documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship in 2023, largely due to organized campaigns that targeted multiple titles at a time. Some 47% of those titles represented the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
In addition, in a preliminary report on the subject released today, PEN America found that more than 10,000 books were banned in public schools during the 2023-2024 school year, nearly triple the previous year. About 8,000 book bans were recorded in Florida and Iowa, largely because of state laws. And newly enacted laws likely will have similar effects in Utah, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Continuing the trend of targeting books with "diverse perspectives, book bans from the 2023-2024 school year overwhelmingly featured stories with people or characters of color and/or LGBTQ+ people."
The report added: "Coordinated campaigns by a vocal minority of groups and individual actors place undue pressure on school boards and districts, resulting in a chilled atmosphere of overly cautious decision-making regarding the accessibility of books in public school libraries. Attacks on literature in schools persist despite the unpopularity of 'parent's rights' groups and polls that show broad opposition to school book bans."
---
Ava DuVernay |
The honorary chair of Banned Books Week this year is Ava DuVernay, writer, director, and producer of Selma, 13th, Queen Sugar, and When They See Us. She has also directed two films inspired by frequently banned books: A Wrinkle in Time, based on the book by Madeleine L'Engle, and Origin, about the life of Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
DuVernay said, "I believe that censorship is the enemy of freedom. By banning books, we deny ourselves the opportunity to learn from the past and to envision a braver future. Books have the power to open minds and build bridges. This is why certain forces do not want the masses to engage with books. They fear progress and growth in new, bold directions. For this reason, Banned Books Week is vitally important. It is a celebration of our right to access varied voices and to engage with ideas that challenge and champion us. I am honored to be selected as honorary chair of Banned Book Week for this election year, and I stand with my fellow readers, fellow writers and fellow advocates around the world who refuse to let voices be silenced."
Julia Garnett |
Banned Books Week's youth honorary chair this year is Julia Garnett, a student activist who fought book bans in her home state of Tennessee. In her school district, Garnett helped to defend challenged books by speaking out at school board meetings and successfully advocated to participate on her high school's book review committee. She was honored for her advocacy for the freedom to read in 2023 by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during a ceremony at the White House. Garnett is also a leader in the National Coalition Against Censorship's Student Advocates for Speech program, educating other students about advocacy.
---
Banned Books Week culminates on Saturday, September 28, with Let Freedom Read Day, which will focus on voting, from registering to vote and understanding what's on the ballot to making sure communities are informed about their rights. Everyone is encouraged to do at least one thing on September 28 to fight censorship. Suggestions and more information are available online.
Among the many sponsors of Banned Books Week are the ABA's American Booksellers for Free Expression, the American Library Association, Association of University Presses, the Authors Guild, the Children's Book Council, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and PEN America. The group also receives major support from Penguin Random House. Thanks to all of them for doing this important work!