Banned Books Reading List: A Monument to Injustice and a Celebration of Free Speech
The fight for access to information and the freedom to read is an ongoing battle, waged across generations and geographies. Public libraries, for example, have long been at the forefront of this struggle, actively combating censorship and championing the right to read freely. This dedication led to the establishment of Banned Books Week in 1982, an annual event designed to highlight the books targeted for removal from schools and libraries. While book banning is not a new phenomenon—it’s a historical tool of oppression—the past few years have witnessed a particularly aggressive wave of bans and challenges, primarily in the United States. The American Library Association (ALA), the organization that spearheaded Banned Books Week, has documented a record number of banned books in recent years, many of which center the voices and experiences of people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. This surge in censorship highlights a troubling trend: the deliberate silencing of marginalized communities and the suppression of diverse perspectives.





