Banned Book Week: a celebrate the freedom to read

Banned Book Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read by featuring books that have been targeted or banned from public and school libraries. It will be celebrated from September 26 through October 2 with this year’s theme, “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides.” The goal is to spotlight the freedom to seek and express ideas even those some would consider unorthodox or unpopular. Launched in the 1980s, at a time of increased challenges and organized protests against languages and ideas that some groups considered dangerous. In 1982, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) held their annual BookExpo and showcased the banned books in large, padlocked metal cages with approximately 500 banned books. Due to the success of the exhibit, a yearly campaign was started. Also in 1982, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Island Trees School District v Pico. What impact did the case have on the freedom to read? What books are frequently banned across the country? 

In 1975, Island Trees School District received a complaint from a community group, Parents of New York United. They asserted that school policies on library books were too “permissive.” They specially complained about approximately 9 books, including Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) by Kurt Vonnegut and Best Short Stories by Negro Writers (1967) by Langston Hughes. They stated that the books were “anti-American, anti-Christian, and anti-Semitic, and just plain flithy” (Bill of Rights Institute, 2021). In response, the district removed the books in February 1975. Senior Steven Pico and four other students challenged the decision. They claimed the books were removed because “passages in the books offended social, political, and moral tastes,” and not because they lacked “educational value” (Bill of Rights Institute, 2021). A dozen libraries and free speech organizations filed briefs on the students’ behalf and the case made its way to the Supreme Court. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the right to read was implied by the First Amendment. A public school as part of the government, cannot restrict speech because it does not agree with the content of that speech (Bill of Rights Institute, 2021). They went on the rule that libraries are places for “voluntary inquiry'' and the school boards’ “absolute discretion” over the classroom did not extend to the library (Bill of Rights Institute, 2021). 

One of the most famous banned books is Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928) by DH Lawrence. It was published privately in Italy and Penguin Books published the original explicit text in 1960 (Spencer, 2017). Eventually it would be banned in four countries, including the United States in 1930, for obscenity. The ban would eventually be overturned in 1959. Another famous banned book, All Quiet on the Western Front (1928) by Erich Maria Remarque, was seen as unpatriotic by the National Socialist German Workers’ Party and even non-Nazi military personal and writers (Spencer, 2017). It would be among many books banned and burned during the Nazi regime (Sauer, 2015). Today, there are challenges to books somewhere in the United States every year. Here are five frequently challenged books (some of these books are repeatedly on the yearly book list) as well as a reason why it was challenged. 

1. To Kill a Mockingbird bird by Harper Lee. Reasons: racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience

2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Reasons: profanity and for “vulgarity and sexual overtones” 

3. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. Reasons: referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals

4. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Reasons: sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”

5. The Holy Bible. Reason: religious viewpoint

One thing I have learned is to read for yourself. While I check out book reviews when considering books, they are not the only factor in my decision to read a book or not. For a long time, I listened to many people in my church who spoke bad about the Harry Potter series. I refused to read it for the longest time. It wasn’t until I took a children’s literature class in college and one of the required books was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1997). From the opening chapter I was hooked. It was then I realized that I was forming my opinion based on someone’s opinion. The old adage is true, never judge a book by its cover, and I would add never judge a book based on someone else’s opinion. I have been given books that people raved about, but when I read it myself, I wasn’t as impressed. Does that mean the book is bad? No, it just means the book didn’t speak to me as it did to others. I spend a great deal of my year reading and reviewing books. I thoroughly enjoy expressing my opinions and while I may not recommend a book, I will never tell someone to never read a book. Consider the recommendations but read for yourself before you form your own opinion. 

In conclusion, Banned Book Week is an annual celebration of our freedom to read or not to read. Books have been challenged for various reasons for centuries. Encouraging people not to read a book based on its content is one thing, but to completely ban a book is another. We have the freedom to read or not to read a book based on recommendations or our own investigations into the content. Many people have raved about books that I have no interest in reading but I will not discourage others from reading it. There are books that I have no desire to read based on what the content is, but I will not look down on those who choose to read it or move to ban it  from being read at all. Again it is the freedom of choice. If I choose to read a book for entertainment, to broaden my horizons or just to see what the fuss is about, that is my choice. 

For Further Reading

American Library Association https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned

References

Bill of Rights Institute (2021). Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982). Bill of Rights Institute. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/e-lessons/island-trees-school-district-v-pico-1982. Retrieved September 15, 2021. 

Sauer, Patrick (June 16, 2015). The Most Loved and Hated Novel About World War I. Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/most-loved-and-hated-novel-about-world-war-I-180955540/.

Retrieved September 17, 2021. 

Spencer, Samuel (September 25, 2017). 12 Books That Have Been Famously Banned. The Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/articles/the-12-most-famous-banned-books-of-all-time/. Retrieved September 15, 2021.