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CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS MAKING A COMEBACK

Image Courtesy of Madison Echlin / The State News

By Luis Zavala
A Perspective

Censorship in America has withstood the test of time. Like racism and cancer, censorship is a disease that seems incurable.  Books are taking a beating again as right wingers are trying once more to shut down speech they do not like.

For controversial authors, censorship can be a badge of honor. George Orwell’s “1984” is the most banned book of all time, the GOAT of the pyre. Its social and political themes are targets as is its sexual content.

Big Brother has company. Today books with LGBTQ themes are prime candidates to be disappeared.

Librarians have historically been the protecters of books going back to Gutenberg. The American Library Association 9ALA) condemns censorship and defends Americans’ First Amendment right to read like the Knights Templar guarded the holy grail.

“Sexuality and obscenity, crude language, violence and religious/political references are the primary reasons for most challenges,” according to an ALA statement.

Its 13 most banned of 2022 were all LGBTQ-related tomes. “Looking For Alaska” by John Green and “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe have the distinction of being the most banned novels of this decade.

In response to book bans in school libraries and bookstores, the ALA created Banned Book Week in September 1982. Classic books are not safe just by virtue of being classic. Shifting cultural norms often target a theme or a message prevalent in a classic novel, which in turn makes it a target.

Chula Vista librarian Elsa Dolan said bans are usually regional.

“It depends on the political leaning of the state,” she said. “It always comes down to where you are located, who’s freaking out and about what, and what’s in the spotlight.”

Parents can make decisions about what their children read, Dolan said, making bans unnecessary.

“There’s no sense in banning it when you can just not read it,” she said.

Head Librarian Mara Cabrera said books carry stories of our cultures and the foundation of wisdom.

“Literature is extremely important,” she said. “Think of all the stories told in different books – fiction or non-fiction – and the impact that every story has.”

Cabrera said the Chula Vista City Council has a clear policy opposing book banning and suppression of free speech, but other communities do not. ALA research shows that books, graphic novels and textbooks comprise 82 percent of materials targeted for censorship in libraries. Displays and exhibits constitute 6 percent of bans, programs and meeting rooms 4 percent, films 1 percent. The remaining 7 percent consists of  databases, magazines and music.

Book banners are primarily political and religious groups, according to ALA data, but parents are almost one third of the censors. Contrary to what is often reported, teachers, librarians and elected officials make up a very small part of the problem. A vast majority of would-be book banners never actually read the book.

Pandemic year 2020 gave rise to a new form of censorship dubbed “Cancel Culture.” Chula Vista librarian Stacy Banks said she has worked in libraries throughout California and has never seen books banned in this state. It is a different story in Florida and Texas, America’s banishment capitals.

“I know there is censorship on the Internet and social media,” she said. “TikTok and Instagram limit what you can say, what you can post and what can be in your videos. If one person doesn’t like something, and says that your video was offensive, it can be taken down. You can be shadow banned and blocked. So, there is all kinds of censorship, not just printing.”

Banks said Cancel Culture is a form a censorship.

“Social media and digital media censorship is outweighing books at this point,” she said. “Celebrities and influencers are all over the Internet across your phones, tablets, laptops – they are everywhere. (Say) the wrong thing then cancel culture does its own thing. Chances are you will never hear from them again.”

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