There's Nothing Good About Banning Books - But In The U.S. Its Business As Usual
April 19th, 2023
The United States has a complicated history with book banning, censorship, and challenges to books in public libraries and schools.
Book banning and censorship date back to the colonial era, when the Puritans banned books that they considered immoral or heretical. During the 19th century, books such as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” were banned for their perceived controversial content. In the 20th century, book banning and censorship continued, particularly during the Cold War era, when books deemed to be sympathetic to communism or anti-American were often banned or censored. During the 1950s, books such as Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” were banned or challenged for their perceived subversive content.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the focus of book banning and censorship shifted to books that dealt with controversial topics such as sexuality, race, and religion. Books such as Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series were among the most frequently challenged books in public libraries and schools. In recent years, book banning and censorship have continued to be contentious issues, particularly in light of the rise of social media and the ease with which individuals can spread misinformation and false narratives. Nevertheless, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the freedom of speech and expression, and courts have consistently struck down attempts to ban books and restrict access to information.
The issue of book banning has been a contentious one in the United States for decades, with some arguing that certain books should be
books should be banned or censored in order to protect children from inappropriate content, while others argue that such bans infringe on freedom of speech and the right to access information. Data on the percentage of people supporting book banning versus those who do not is difficult to come by, as opinions on this issue can vary depending on the specific book or context. However, several surveys and studies have attempted to gauge public opinion on this issue.
One such survey, conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) in 2020, found that the majority of respondents (73%) believed that people should have the right to read whatever they want, without government interference or censorship.This suggests that the idea of book banning is not widely supported in the United States, at least among those surveyed. However, the same survey also found that nearly half of respondents (45%) believed that certain books should be banned in schools and libraries if they were deemed to be inappropriate for children. This suggests that while many people may support the idea of freedom of speech and access to information, they may also believe that certain materials should be restricted in certain contexts. It’s also worth noting that opinions on book banning can be highly influenced by political and ideological factors. For example, a study published in the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy in 2018 found that Republicans were more likely than Democrats to support the banning of certain books, particularly those that were perceived as having leftist or progressive viewpoints.
Overall, while the data on public opinion regarding book banning in the United States is unbalanced, it suggests that the majority of Americans support the right to read whatever they want without government interference.