By Aryka Randall, Contributing Writer
The Book Ban in America has been the headline of many stories throughout 2023 and, as the ban moves on, it’s become more clear how the censorship of particular stories impact different groups of people.
There are currently 1,145 books banned between titles included in public libraries, and on school campuses. Of those books, 467 include authors of color and of those books, 247 include titles pertaining to race and racism specifically. Why is this problematic? Because the censorship of Black history and Black experiences makes it easier to dehumanize people when the public is unaware of their struggles as human beings.
One of the most censored authors of all time is Toni Morrison. Morrison has been the most frequently banned author since 1990 and her books have made the list of the 100 most banned titles for over 30 years, reaching the top 10 most banned authors between 2010 and 2019. The Bluest Eye, Beloved, and Song of Solomon are among the top of book ban lists across the country..
As it pertains to Black authors, some of the most widely banned books throughout the nation are as follows:
- The Hate You Give
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- The Color Purple
- Stamped
- The New Kid
- Class Act
- The New Jim Crow
- The 1619 Project
- Native Son
- Black Boy
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Invisible Man
While there have been a number of bans on books that affect Black authors, there has also been an uptick in efforts to help remedy censorship. The movement is being called the “Black History Underground Railroad” and has gained a following as well as momentum since its inception in Washington D.C. earlier this year.
While censorship is impactful and disappointing, It’s important to keep in mind that book bans stop at libraries, schools, and University campuses. Moving forward it will continue to be the responsibility of local communities to keep the youth and uninformed up to date on a history that was so carefully archived by some of the most brilliant Black minds of the century.
