What the hell with the book banning mobs lately? It makes me mad, but it also makes me sad because it means people who take a stand against intellectual freedom have never read a book that touched their heart; opened their mind; gave them a new perspective; or made them feel seen, heard and maybe a little less lonely. Otherwise, they wouldn't try to snatch books out of the hands of everyone else.
What a small world they must live in. How scared of life they must be. I mean, seriously, fear is a great motivator. What are they so afraid of that they want to ban books? Sad, sad, sad sad sad. I feel sorry for them.
Don't get me wrong. There's plenty of content in this world — printed, digital and otherwise — that I don't think is fit for public consumption. But, I don't believe in banning it. Making sure it's age appropriate? Absolutely? I stand strong in my support of freedom of speech despite how ugly, frightening and complex the topic can be. It's part of America's story. If you don't like something, don't read /watch/listen to it. Guide your kids to do the same, but don't try to restrict my access or my kids' access to it. So simple.
News Flash: Your Kids Have Access to Banned Books ... and Worse
What I can't figure out is why these fervent book banners don't realize that books are the least of their worries. Kids have access to graphic content, gay content, drug use content and mind-opening content on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Discord and who knows where else. Even if parents ban/forbid their kids from having social media accounts or reading certain books, they still have easy access in ways you would never imagine. Kids are pretty smart about getting their hands on stuff their parents don't want them to have.
True story: When I was 12 or 13, I babysat for a couple who lived a few townhouses away from me. It took me two minutes to walk from my house to theirs. They had tons of books on their book shelves. Guess which one I zeroed in on after I put their kid to bed? The Joy of Sex. I thumbed through those illustrated pages and read Q&As while my dad sat just two minutes away watching TV.
Another true story: My best girlfriends and I learned about love and sex by reading Forever by Judy Blume (banned) and Judith Krantz novels (super steamy romance stories). Where did we get them? Older sisters and moms. Easy access.
Parenting Must Shift From Protect to Prepare
Starting when they were in third grade, my peeps began busting through the door after school full of stories and questions about sex and drugs from information they gleaned from school friends. I was not prepared to start so many of our serious life conversations so early. But I had no control over what other people told them. So, I had to pivot from a parent who protected her kiddos to one who prepared them, staying as age appropriate as possible. I've always asked them to talk with me whenever their friends tell them something about sex, drugs, relationships — anything — so I can either set the record straight or confirm and educate, as needed. I guess some parents are just too scared to have tough, uncomfortable, awkward and embarrassing conversations with their kids. In other words, parent their children. My peeps are 15 now. Do they come to me with every question? Probably not. But they still come to me enough to know that they trust me to be understanding and straight up with them.
Books, videos, podcasts and TV shows hold so much worthwhile knowledge about the world, life, other people, other perspectives. They can help kids process thoughts and feelings. The up side to having access to so much content can make people feel safe, seen, heard and understood. I pity the kids whose parents think that by destroying books that introduce ideas that are different from their own, or depict lifestyles they don't agree with will keep their kids safe. It won't. Denying kids age-appropriate access to books will stunt their minds, put them in danger when they go out into the world on their own, and force them to hide who they truly are.
Sad, sad, sad sad sad.
Challenged Book Lists & Recently Banned Books
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Censorship Resources
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real — and take a stand against censorship! Or, to put it more positive spin on it: Stand up for intellectual freedom!
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