Facts about Banned Book Week
Banned Books Week isn’t a federal holiday, but it is a nationally recognized annual event that celebrates the freedom to read and raises awareness about censorship in schools and libraries.
- Founded in 1982 by the American Library Association (ALA), it was created in response to a surge in book challenges across the U.S.
- Observed every fall, Banned Books Week 2025 will take place from October 5–11, with the theme: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.”
- Banned Book Week is supported by a coalition of organizations, including PEN America, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and Amnesty International USA.
- It’s a powerful week for advocacy, reflection, and community action—especially relevant to your work in survivor-centered storytelling and digital wellness.
Why is it Important to Read Banned Books:
- It Defends Free Expression
Banned books are often targeted for exploring race, gender, sexuality, religion, or political ideas. Reading them affirms the right to access diverse perspectives and challenges attempts to silence marginalized voices. - It Builds Empathy and Critical Thinking
These books frequently tackle complex, uncomfortable truths—like grief, injustice, or identity. Engaging with them helps readers develop emotional literacy, ask hard questions, and understand lives different from their own. - It Resists Erasure
As the New York Public Library notes, banning a book is often the first step toward erasing a person’s humanity and culture. Reading these stories is a way to say: “You exist. Your story matters.” - It Supports Youth Development
For many young readers, banned books are their first encounter with literature that reflects their lived experience. Removing these titles from schools and libraries disproportionately affects children who rely on public access to books. - It Sparks Dialogue and Change
Banned books often become catalysts for community conversations. They invite readers to confront prejudice, question norms, and imagine more just futures.
Black Lit, Banned & Beloved
As promised in my previous post, here is a list of banned books by Black authors. The books with an asterisk are the ones that I have read, which makes me a banned book baddie LOL
| Title | Author | Why It’s Been Banned/Challenged |
|---|---|---|
| *The Bluest Eye | Toni Morrison | Graphic content, racial themes, and critiques of beauty standards |
| *Beloved | Toni Morrison | Depictions of slavery and trauma; considered “too intense” for some curricula |
| All Boys Aren’t Blue | George M. Johnson | LGBTQ+ themes and Black queer identity; frequently challenged in schools |
| *The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas | Alleged “anti-police” messaging and profanity |
| Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You | Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi | Called “divisive” for its exploration of systemic racism |
| The 1619 Project | Nikole Hannah-Jones | Reframing American history through the lens of slavery; politically controversial |
| Homegoing | Yaa Gyasi | Multi-generational saga of slavery’s legacy; challenged for its historical themes |
| *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Maya Angelou | Sexual abuse, racism, and trauma; often deemed “too mature” for young readers |
| *Between the World and Me | Ta-Nehisi Coates | Honest reflections on race in America; challenged for its political tone |
| Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | Addresses police violence and racial injustice; challenged in some districts |
| *Unbound | Tarana Burke | Memoir of survival and activism; challenged for its candid discussion of abuse |
| *Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Isabel Wilkerson | Deep critique of social hierarchies; banned for “controversial comparisons” |
| Monday’s Not Coming | Tiffany D. Jackson | YA thriller about missing Black girls; challenged for disturbing content |
| New Kid | Jerry Craft | Alleged promotion of “Critical Race Theory”; temporarily removed from schools |
| The New Jim Crow | Michelle Alexander | Critique of mass incarceration; banned in prisons and some schools |
These bans often reflect discomfort with truth, not danger in the content. Each of these works invites readers to reckon with history, identity, and justice — and their removal only underscores their importance.
Here is a Book and Bloom review of one of my favorite authors Toni Morrison:
