Number of book challenges nationwide doubled from 2021 as book ban movement gathers speed in Republican-led states

Number of book challenges nationwide doubled from 2021 as book ban movement gathers speed in Republican-led states

Texas made the most attempts to ban or restrict books in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association (ALA).

Last year, there were 1,269 documented censorship attempts to restrict 2,571 unique titles – the highest number ever recorded by ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom and double the 729 book challenges made in 2021.

Texas made 93 attempts to restrict access to over 2,300 books.

The book ban movement, has been gaining speed in recent years across the US, particularly in Republican-led states, and is becoming a central theme in religious-political activism. Often the books contain issues related to LGBTQ+ communities or race.

  • agent_flounderEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison was the most challenged book in the state, on grounds it contained sexually explicit content. Other challenged books include Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, and other books with LGBTQ+ or anti-racism themes.

    What do you call it when they remove books that aren’t sexually explicit but deal with LGBTQ+ and anti-racism themes?