To the editor:

With the nation’s attention focused on the Supreme Court’s forthcoming Roe v. Wade decision, the unprecedented censorship of books in public schools and libraries continues largely unnoticed. According to the American Library Association, attempts to ban book increased in 2021 to the highest level since that organization began tracking book challenges 20 years ago.

Jonathan Friedman of PEN America (a non-profit organization that works to defend freedom of expression) stated that what’s “happening in this country in terms of banning books in schools is unparalleled in its frequency, intensity and success …”

Especially disconcerting is that 98% of the more than 1,500 book bans tracked by PEN America took place (as reported by the Washington Post) “when administrators acted covertly or outside of the normal process schools have set up to handle book challenges.”

The most targeted books were by or about African Americans and LGBTQ people. According to bookseller Barnes and Noble, the top banned and challenged books also include numerous literary classics including: “Fahrenheit 451” (Ray Bradbury), “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Harper Lee), “1984” and “Animal Farm” (George Orwell), “Lord of the Flies” (William Golding), “The Great Gatsby” (F. Scott Fitzgerald) and “Slaughterhouse Five” (Kurt Vonnegut).

A bill recently passed by the Tennessee House would criminally penalize school librarians who fail to remove books the school board determines “obscene.” The Nashville Public Library is issuing 5,000 limited-edition cards that state: “I Read Banned Books With My Library Card.” Every library in the country should do the same.

George J. Bryjak

Bloomingdale

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Sources:

Harris. E. and A. Alter (2022) “Book banning efforts surged in 2021. These titles were the most targeted,” April 4, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com

Natanson, H. (2022) “More books are banned than ever before, as Congress takes on the issue,” April 7, The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com

Ruth, D. (2022) “Some Barnes & Noble stores add ‘Banned Book’ sections amid recent controversy,” March 3, WGN Television, https://wgntv.com

Torchinsksy, R. (2022) “In the battle over books, Nashville’s library’s response? ‘I read banned books'” May 5, National Public Radio, www.npr.org