The American Library Association (ALA) has been tracking book bans and/or challenges for more than 20 years. In 2023, the number of book titles targeted for censorship, ban or challenge rose 65% compared to 2022. According to the ALA’s most recent report (March 14, 2024), 4,240 unique book titles in schools and libraries were challenged – the highest level ever documented. This number surpassed the 2022 high when 2,571 titles were targeted for censorship. The report also documents 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials and resources in 2023.
Several attention-grabbing trends emerged from the data:
- In 2023, pressure groups zeroed in on public and school libraries, where the number of attempts to censure materials increased by 92 percent.
- Individuals and groups demanding censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, attributed to the surge.
- Titles representing the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning, intersex, asexual & more) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & people of color) made up 47 percent of books targeted for censorship.
- Attempts to censor more than 100 titles occurred in 17 states (Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin).
Dr. Cynthia S. Nicholson, associate dean for the School of Education at Norfolk State University, has also observed these trends over the years. Her area of research is literacy. Although she doesn’t subscribe to the book ban/ challenge phenomenon as something the public should fear, Nicholson believes the current rise in book challenges, especially those targeted to the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color, is a historical continuation to marginalize specific groups—an attempt to erase the history of our country and those peoples who should be disregarded. “No doubt by trying to keep certain books out of the hands of children, parent and conservative groups continue to take away targeted subjects. You can’t erase the history of this country. As a people, we can respond,” said Dr. Nicholson. “Part of the reason for the increase in book challenges is propaganda, Nicholson surmises. “Propaganda has been the issue when you have elected officials in areas they aren’t qualified to be. I would never tell my surgeon what he or she should do because they are the surgeon.”
Susan Burton is a 39-year veteran librarian in the city of Portsmouth, Virginia. Burton, who also held the position of director of libraries for 13 years, said she is alarmed by the rise in book challenges and bans of specific titles. “I, as well as many other public and school librarians, have advanced degrees in our respective fields. We select materials based on trusted sources, some of which have been around for over 100 years.” Burton was adamant about the role parents have played in the issue. “Parents have always had the right to inquire into these selections and always had the right to request a different title for their child to read.” Burton and Nicholson agree that social media may have fueled book bans and/or challenges. “Social media spreads misinformation quickly and alarms parents who, in many cases, have not read the books being challenged or have only seen small excerpts,” explained Burton. Professor Nicholson concurred, “Reading is fundamental. We should not be in the business of telling students what to think. Our job is to teach them to think critically.”
Nicholson further explains, “Basically it is a continuation of things that happened in the past.” Referring to parent and conservative groups orchestrating book bans she added, “If I can divide and conquer groups of people over issues that really matter to me, I can take people’s eyes off the real issue, and the real issue is that racism continues to repeat, marginalization continues to repeat, and people are continuing to be treated in ways that are nonhuman and that’s our truth.” Nicholson clarifies that the impact of book challenges is the same for both the student and society in general. “Research has shown that students do better when they have books, resources and even teachers that look like them and their communities.
We all are really impacted.” Interestingly enough, Nicholson noted that book bans and challenges have not yet affected colleges and universities. “The university is a place where students can learn and be able to challenge the status quo. Every generation challenges the norm. And the fact that folks have forgotten this blows my mind.”
In February, the Virginia Beach School Board in Virginia passed an amendment that created a content committee whose purpose is to develop procedures to be used by schools to ensure elementary school libraries do not contain sexually explicit content. Regarding secondary school libraries, the content committee shall develop procedures for identifying incoming library materials that contain sexually explicit content and for listing such library materials that meets the definition in a prominent location on the school division website. The policy uses the definition for sexually explicit content as described in the Virginia State Code (2.2-2827). Dr. Nicholson said that “sexually explicit content” is one of those buzzwords or phrases that can incite parents. “One has to examine how the term is being used. School boards are run by constituents or stakeholders and if those stakeholders don’t say anything differently, then school boards are going to make those decisions. Constituents have to say something so that school boards can make better decisions or decisions for the betterment of the entire society, and not just the society in a certain zip code. As we continue to examine school districts and continue to look at texts, you have to think about who’s really uncomfortable.” As mentioned earlier, the American Library Association report cited 17 states, including Virginia, where more than 100 book titles have been challenged.
So what is the solution and what can citizens do to ensure students and the reading public have the resources they want? “If we’re going to have libraries with diverse thoughts and ideas, we cannot ban books or resources. The community could come together with schools and perhaps read books together. Sometimes it just takes knowledge and understanding,” stated Dr. Nicholson. “I wonder how many parents have actually read Toni Morrison’s Beloved or Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird? These books have been around for decades, and now groups want them banned. Banning books doesn’t change the history of enslavement. Until we come together to have real discussions about texts and not people, change won’t happen.” Burton added, “At this point in time, I feel we have gone back to the 1950s when some books were not allowed to be sold in the United States. But people smuggled them in, and eventually, the books were recognized for their literary value.” Nicholson believes that education has always been the key to better understanding. “As an educator, I’m training a generation of teachers. As a teacher, I tell them that you’re always going to be an advocate for something. That’s just part of the job. Teachers should be celebrating the cultural differences of their students and encouraging them to embrace all of our differences.”