Censorship is the child of Fear and the father of Ignorance
Laurie Halse Anderson
Banning books is just another form of bullying.
It’s all about fear and an assumption of power.
The key is to address the fear and deny the power.
James Howe
The books that the world calls immoral
are the books that show the world its own shame.
Oscar Wilde
The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen.
Tommy Smothers
What do JK Rowlings, Theodore (Dr. Seuss) Giesel, Shel Silverstein, RL Stein, Philip Pullman, Madeleine L’Engle, Roald Dahl, and Judy Blume all have in common? How about if we add in Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, John Steinbeck, Margaret Mitchell, JRR Tolkien, Harper Lee, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou, and Jack London?
These are all authors who are on the frequently challenged book lists. Meaning, narrow-minded people try to ban their books from schools and libraries more than any other books. Yes, people still do that in this day and age. People who are afraid of thinking, afraid of ideas, afraid of other people, and afraid of learning still try to ban books so they can try to control the thinking of the people around them.
This year’s Banned Books week theme is that censorship divides us. Most of the books on the top 10 banned books of 2020 deal with racisim. Some are familiar like To Kill a Mockingbird and others are new like Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Sounds like racists don’t want you to read books about racism Just another way of keeping people down by controlling their minds.
If you wish to know more about Banned Book Week,please go to the American Library Association. Remember, a banned book is a loss for everyone. I encourage you to read a book or two from one of the banned books lists.
I so agree with this. The very idea of certain ‘special’ people reading books or watching films and deciding whether ‘ordinary’ mortals are allowed to read/watch them is utterly preposterous to me.
I think you can tell that this is one issue that really pisses me off. I can remember being a child and getting angry over reports of book burnings and/or bannings. Books are sacred to me because of how they open us up to the larger world.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! We need everyone not just our kids to read and learn about people who are different than us! This is how we create understanding and empathy! Great post!
Thanks, Lisa. Books not only open doors to other worlds, but they open minds as well.
They sure do!
I read this post with the same sense of outrage. Sometimes we see hidden messages that just aren’t there. And really, so what if they are? As an avid reader, I picked up adult level books early, like Clan of the Cave Bear in the 7th grade. My child has read several of the books you mention here as being frequently challenged. And I’m proud to say my local library regularly promotes books that have the distinction of being banned in the past or present. Reading diverse books and encountering challenging situations helps us grow and starts cconversations. Maybe those who seek to ban books are afraid of those conversations and fear they haven’t the words to tell a child truths about the world we live in and talk through how to navigate them. Children need tools to deal with the unexpected, books and conversation help provide them. What a shame (even a crime) that some would seek to limit a child’s toolbox. None of us will be better for that in the end. Thanks for providing the link for more info. I’ll be reading more.
It’s the thing that irks me to no end, especially living in the US. It is the conversation they are trying to hide from. Most, not because they don’t have the words to have the conversation, but because they don’t feel the conversation should be started in the first place. This past year, the most frequently banned books are all diversity based, whether it’s because of race, religion or sexual orientation.
So frustrating.
It really brings it home to see the authors in a list like that. I have read things that I have found really shocking and have changed my perspective. Mostly history. Censorship is a modern day evil. Excellent post.
How else to open your mind and look at things from another person’s point of view. That’s how we bring about unity as opposed to fear. By blocking whole ideas or thoughts from children, people are creating fear.
Very true.
This is a superbly put together post damning censorship. If It is banned then I am more likely to read it and review it. Like many here I say the choice of what to read belongs firmly with the reader! Grrrrrrrr!
Thank you!
I seem to like all the authors you mentioned…I must like controversial opinions! Oops!
Oh, well. Guess there’s no help for you! 😉
This really gets me, it’s those that scream the loudest for equality and free speech for all that somehow don’t see the hypocrisy in censoring the voices of others.
My children will never be censored, if the school can’t provide it..I will.
I know. You’re all going to be my kind of equal, I don’t care what you want is what they are saying. I sent my son to a Catholic school at one point because they are known for strict discipline and quiet in the classroom which was something my ADHD son needed at the time so he wouldn’t get hyper-distracted. We’re not Catholic and we are pro-choice, but they required that he attend a religion class and go to Mass at least once a week. So each week we discussed what he learned in class so that I could let him know what we believed or didn’t believe in.
Tell that one (censorship) to Donald Trump 🙂
I agree completely (and I’ve read some, not all, of those authors … even Judy Bloom!) but we must also apply the same standard to the cancel culture crowd. We need to hear, debate and dispose of ideas we DON’t agree with as well as the ones we do. Right?