Book bans aren’t new and they’re not exactly rare, but the massive book bans we’re witnessing across the U.S. is the latest GOP tactic designed to eradicate conversations students have in the classroom around genocide, white supremacy, gender and sexuality. In fact, most of the books being challenged by community members in the U.S. are about race and LGBTQ+ identities.
These book bans are the latest play from the Republican handbook to “take back schools” and rob children of a quality education, replacing it with inaccuracies about “critical race theory” (CRT), and the history of slavery, civil rights and LGBTQ+ people. And the truth is, not every child will have the access or means to fill the gaps in their education by buying these books online.
Our kids deserve the opportunity to be taught American history in its entirety – not just history about white Americans. The extremist GOP doesn’t get to take away our right to teach students about complex histories.
We can all play a part in fighting back against white supremacy and misinformation in our schools by sending a clear message to school boards, principals and superintendents that our children should be taught accurately about the history of this nation.
