Ban Bigots, Not Books: Why Book Bans Threaten Critical Thinking
Depending on what media you’re reading, books are the greatest gift or the biggest sin. My opinion sits firmly in the former; books are magical portals to new ways of seeing the world. That’s why people are so afraid of them. That’s why the list of banned books continues to grow. Books can and have changed the world.
Why Book Bans Matter
Book banning is not a new strategy. Columbia University reported that “Historians date censorship back all the way to the earliest appearance of written materials. Ancient Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti began eliminating historical texts in 259 B.C., and in 35 A.D., Roman emperor Caligula objected to the ideals of Greek freedom depicted in The Odyssey.” Hitler had the youth burn books by leftist, radical authors beginning in 1933. Young people are caught in the crossfire of the American culture wars. They don’t have access to books featuring characters who look like them or share their experiences. It sends them the message that they aren’t welcome in this world. It stifles their ability to think radically and imagine a better future.
Book Bans Are About Control, Not Protection
The number of banned books has increased considerably in the last few years, with a recorded 4,349 instances from July through December 2023. Most of these bans are on books that dare to talk openly about race, class, gender, and sexuality. Since its inception, banning books has been a form of censorship and political control. Book bans aren’t about books, it’s about being free to access information. As the U.S. continues to wage war abroad, in the vain of “liberation” for others, books about liberation are banned at home.
There’s a reason why books like 1984 by George Orwell or The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison are banned - they speak truth to power. They challenge the hegemonic ideal - straight, white, Christian, men. Even the romance fantasies are under attack - sorry, Sarah J. Mass lovers! We wouldn’t want women getting crazy ideas about pleasure in their brains now, would we? (Yes. Yes, we would.)
How Sociology Changed the Way I See the World
A recent book-related headline that infuriated me to no end came from Florida. You’re probably asking which one? Fair question, since Florida leads the country in book bans. The latest? A ban on Intro to Sociology books. I was a sociology major in college, and it was a part of my coursework in grad school. I attribute a lot of who I am today to those Sociology courses, particularly my intro class.
I hadn’t even heard the word sociology before I was put into an intro class in my first college semester, but looking back, I know that class represents a huge pivot in my life. It was where I read Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” and “Dude You’re a Fag” by CJ Pascoe. It was where I was introduced to class struggles through the works of Karl Marx and C. Wright Mills, and critiqued religion with the help of Max Weber. It was where I gained the language to talk about the sexism I had experienced, but didn’t yet know what to call it. It is what encouraged me to explore women’s studies classes - the ultimate conservative, Christian nationalist, bro nightmare.
My Intro to Sociology blew my lil northern Minnesota white girl brain apart, in the best way possible. And that’s the problem. It made me think critically, and fascists hate that. I don’t know where the phrase ban bigots, not books, originated from,but it really does sum it up nicely.
If book bans are happening in your school district or your state, call your reps. Tell them you think book bans are trash legislation. The organization Unite Against Book Bans has great resources on how to talk to your state officials, school boards, and more.
Supporting Libraries, Independent Bookstores & Accessible Education
Books can offer you a quiet moment of solitude or can be a way to join a community through things like book clubs or poetry readings. Buy from local, independent bookstores when you can—buying books secondhand also rocks. And let’s not forget the radical space that is your local library! If you are an audiobook lover, your local library even has audiobooks to rent. Gifting books is one of my favorite things to give, especially to the younger people in my life. It’s a beautiful way to keep stories alive, to stir the imagination, and to keep learning.
I carried around books before I could read. Even then, they brought comfort. If nothing else, I could escape into my book(s) of choice that day. Even now, I often have a book in my bag. You never know. And if you resonated with my piece about brainrot, carrying a book around is a great way to avoid doomscrolling into oblivion.
And, just for the love of books, below are a few of my favorite reads from the last few months - all of which could be on a banned book list, depending on where you live. It’s a smattering of mostly non-fiction and poetry. I need to be better at working with more fiction. I love a witchy, fantasy romance novel, but tend to get lost in a pile of non-fiction for months. Both are beautiful and necessary.
What are you reading? Any recommendations? Are you dealing with book bans where you live? Do you have a favorite from the banned book list?
I want to hear from you! Find me on Substack and share your thoughts.
