Book challenges reach historic highs, American Library Association reports

By Mike Lavietes, NBC

Books have been challenged in libraries across the country at historic rates so far this year, with the vast majority of titles written by a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ community or centered on the topic of racial, gender or sexual diversity.

According to a new report by the American Library Association, between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 there were 695 attempts to censor library materials or services across the country, compared with 681 similar challenges during the same period last year. In total, 1,915 unique titles have been disputed (some censorship attempts include multiple book titles), a 20% increase over the same time period last year, preliminary data released Tuesday by the ALA showed.

“These attacks on our freedom to read should trouble every person who values liberty and our constitutional rights,” Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s  Office for Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement. “To allow a group of people or any individual, no matter how powerful or loud, to become the decision-maker about what books we can read or whether libraries exist, is to place all of our rights and liberties in jeopardy.”

NBC has more details.

ABHM’s book club reads books with important racial themes.

Keep up to date with Black news.