As Juneteenth gets closer, it’s important to recognize the book bans we’re still fighting against! Book bans are on the rise, as an Inauguration poem by Amanda Gorman was banned in a public school in Florida. These bans change our education system. Here’s what a few readers and writers of the black community have tweeted about this ban, and other book bans throughout the country.
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This is just one of the many negative reactions after the banning of Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb.
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What part of banning books, censoring Black history, and attacking the LGBTQIA+ community is “freedom”?
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) May 24, 2023
TWEET VIA NINATURNER
Nina Turner is an activist and teacher. She tweeted about her fears on book bans and its impact on black history.
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GOP states are banning books about black ppl (Ruby Bridges) and poems written by black women (Amanda Gorman) because they “allegedly” make white kids feel bad. It’s more than just a talking point it’s reality. And y’all are letting them. FOR FREE! https://t.co/GkIGdkuGl4
— Sofa King Black (@AmoddDaniels) May 25, 2023
TWEET VIA AMODDDANIELS
One tweet discusses why these books are being banned and the harm it’s doing to education.
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As we head into June, the month of celebrating #PuertoRican pride & #Juneteenth we should refuse to let the news of the banning of yet another book by Black Puerto Rican poet TONY MEDINA fall to the wayside! @PoetTonyMedina #BlackPuertoRicanWriters #BlackLiterature #Blackpoets https://t.co/llO9RfVDwK
— Mariposa Fernández (@LaPoetaMariposa) May 26, 2023
TWEET VIA LAPOETAMARIPOSA
In celebration of both Puerto Rican pride and Juneteenth, some choose to bring attention to the banning of Puerto Rican books for children.
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Happening Now: Students at New Roads School—the #California elementary school @TheAmandaGorman attended—are presenting a reading of The Hill We Climb in response to the removal of the book from school library shelves in Miami-Dade County in #Florida.#IStandWithTheBanned pic.twitter.com/tdM2r4UrpL
— PEN America (@PENamerica) May 26, 2023
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Some schools are promoting presentations on their Twitter. This helps the black voices involved reach larger audiences, along with protesting the book bans.
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Ron DeSantis has history repeating itself, kindof. Banning books is not new, but the “twist” is, DeSantis is not banning books (and poems) so Black people can’t read them, he’s banning them so White people can’t read them.
— Cₕₑᵣₑₗₗₑ Fᵢₒₛₐ 🏴🇲🇽 (@DFiosa) May 23, 2023
We’re NOT having it!
“Amanda Gorman” “Black Twitter” pic.twitter.com/6JrteStLNV
TWEET VIA DFIOSA
Other tweets reflect on the history of book bans and how they’ve changed with time. Regardless of how they’re different, activists seek to stop them.
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So they ban my book from young readers, confuse me with @oprah , fail to specify what parts of my poetry they object to, refuse to read any reviews, and offer no alternatives…Unnecessary #bookbans like these are on the rise, and we must fight back 👊🏿 DONATE here:… pic.twitter.com/p96dlnrSp4
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) May 23, 2023
TWEET VIA THEAMANDAGORMAN
Amanda Gorman tweets about the banning of her own book. Here, she brings up the strange ways her ban has been dealt with by schools.
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Have you been following the heroic efforts of the students from Central York High School as they fight book banning and censorship? Thank you @veronikellymars and @BookRiot for lifting their voices. Hear what these students are doing in their own words.https://t.co/XTcnoyOSoP
— 🏳️🌈Phil Bildner🏳️🌈 (@PhilBildner) May 29, 2023
TWEET VIA PHILBILDNER
Students take to Twitter to show their protests against the book bans, supported by certain local schools.
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What if, and go with me on this, one side of the aisle *denies* the history of slavery and racism to push an agenda?
— Jortan Love (@JortyNelson87) June 19, 2022
What if banning books and demonizing historic education, along with railing against Juneteenth, *is* the political agenda? 😲
TWEET VIA JORTYNELSON87
Others acknowledge the cascading impact of banning books and what it means for the future of racism and education.
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“The concept of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for. It also defies what education is all about: teaching our children to think for themselves.” https://t.co/1tsZw4BL79
— Society of Secret Library Friends (@sslibfriends) May 30, 2023
TWEET VIA SSLIBFRIENDS
Ending on a more positive note, Illinois will likely be the first state to end book bans entirely. To which many on Twitter from all communities are incredibly excited about.
If you want to learn more about book bans, check out another Bookstr article discussing them here! Keep a lookout for the newest information on book bans in your area.