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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-27/what-is-driving-book-bans-in-america-australia/103882982>
'On January 20, 2021, the young black poet Amanda Gorman stood upon the dais at
Joe Biden's presidential inauguration to read her poem
The Hill We Climb.
It was a historic moment, and Gorman rose to meet it, delivering a stirring
performance watched by millions worldwide.
Yet two years later, a printed version of the poem — a tribute to hope, harmony
and the democratic project — was removed from the library of an elementary
school in Florida after a parent complained the book aimed to "cause confusion
and indoctrinate students".
The Hill We Climb was not the only book removed from library shelves in the
US in 2023.
According to the American Library Association (ALA), 4,240 titles held in
public libraries and schools were challenged in 2023, a 65 per cent increase
from 2022. Around half of these books dealt with sexuality and race.
Seventeen states recorded attempts to ban 100 books or more. This includes
Florida, which passed controversial 'don't say gay' legislation in 2022,
preventing teachers from discussing sexuality and gender identity in the
classroom.
But book censorship is not restricted to the US.
In Australia, activists have recently sought to remove books dealing with
topics such as sex education and same-sex parenting from libraries and
bookstores.
So what is driving the wave of book bans and challenges around the world?'
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
