Book censorship in the United States

Book censorship is the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational material on the grounds that it is objectionable according to the standards applied by the censor.[1] The first instance of book censorship in what is now known as the United States, took place in 1637 in modern-day Quincy, Massachusetts.[2][3] While specific titles caused bouts of book censorship, with Uncle Tom’s Cabin frequently cited as the first book subject to a national ban, censorship of reading materials and their distribution remained sporadic in the United States until the Comstock Laws in 1873.[4] It was in the early 20th century that book censorship became a more common practice and source of public debate.[5] Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries there have been waves of attempts at widespread book censorship in the US. Since 2022, the country has seen a dramatic increase of attempted and successful censorship, with a 63% rise in reported cases between 2022 and 2023, including a substantial rise in challenges filed to hundreds of books at a time.[6][7] In recent years, about three-fourths of books subject to censorship in the US are for children, pre-teenagers, and teenagers.[8]

In the debate over book censorship in the United States, "freedom to read" proponents cite traditions and legal precedent building upon the Constitution of the United States, particularly the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments.[9][10][11][12] Much of the justification for censorship over the years has centered on definitions of obscenity and questions about the perceived moral qualities of various books’ content.[13][14][15][16]

Today, the target of book censorship may be either a print, electronic, or audiobook, or a curriculum that includes such sources.[17][6][18] Targeted texts may be held by a business such as a bookstore; a library, either a public library or one located in a school or university; or the school or university as a whole.[19] The entity requesting censorship may be an organization, private individual, or government official.[19]

Several professional organizations advocate for the freedom to read, including the American Library Association (ALA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the American Booksellers Association.[20][21][22] Organizations that advocate for removing books from access include Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn for Education, and MassResistance.[23][13][24][16]

  1. ^ Reichman, Henry (1993). Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools. Revised. Chicago: ALA Books. ISBN 978-0-8389-0798-6.
  2. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Connolly, Colleen. "How America's First Banned Book Survived and Became an Anti-Authoritarian Icon". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Cohen, Matt (2021). "Review of The Trials of Thomas Morton: An Anglican Lawyer, His Puritan Foes, and the Battle for a New England". Early American Literature. 56 (3): 931–936. ISSN 0012-8163. JSTOR 27081965.
  4. ^ Blakemore, Erin (April 24, 2023). "The history of book bans—and their changing targets—in the U.S." National Geographic. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Brady, Amy (September 22, 2016). "The History (and Present) of Banning Books in America". Literary Hub. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Italie, Hillel. "New censorship report finds that over 4,000 books were targeted in US libraries in 2023". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Smith, Tovia (March 14, 2024). "American Library Association report says book challenges soared in 2023". National Public Radio. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Creamer, Ella (September 22, 2023). "'Eating away at democracy': book bans in US public schools rise by a third in a year". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  9. ^ American Library Association (June 13, 2008). "First Amendment and Censorship". American Library Association. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Freedom to Read | ACLU of Oregon". www.aclu-or.org. September 20, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction". Los Angeles Times. January 11, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Klimek, Chris. "A Brief History of Banned Books in America". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Schaper, Arthur (May 20, 2023). "Op-ed: MassResistance continues fight". News and Sentinel (Parkersburg, WV). Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Steele, Jennifer. (2020). A History of Censorship in the United States. Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy. 5. 6–19.
  15. ^ "Banned Book FAQ". American Library Association. October 25, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Wood, Sarah (May 17, 2022). "Book Bans: What to Know". US News and World Report. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Ferri, Catherine E. (February 26, 2024). "Book Banning Goes Digital: Libraries Suspending Their E-Book Services and the Complications It Poses for First Amendment Doctrine" (PDF). Stanford Technology Law Review. 27: 127–179.
  18. ^ Gadd, Chris (September 19, 2022). "Williamson County library backs 'Banned Book Week' after schools remove book". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Webb, Susan L. (August 8, 2023). "Book Banning". The Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "Freedom to Teach: Statement against Banning Books". National Council of Teachers of English. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  21. ^ CARMICHAEL, J (October 11, 2023). "Books for All: Protect the Freedom to Read in Your Community". American Library Association. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  22. ^ "Banned Books Week". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  23. ^ Jacques, Melissa (April 8, 2024). "Pornography in school libraries? Moms for Liberty shares Ryan Walters' cause célèbre". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  24. ^ Pendharkar, Eesha (September 19, 2022). "Who's Behind the Escalating Push to Ban Books? A New Report Has Answers". Education Week. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved April 27, 2024.