Frequently Asked Questions

What is censorship?

"Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons—individuals, groups or government officials—find objectionable or dangerous." (American Library Association)

What is the difference between a banned book and a challenged book?

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.  A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.  Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection. " (American Library Association, Office of Intellectual Freedom)

Why are books challenged?

"The reasons books are challenged have varied throughout history. Before 1999, many challenges had to do with profanity and violence that critics considered inappropriate for children. Between 2000 and 2009, the Harry Potter series was frequently challenged because of its witchcraft and wizardry.

Now the books most frequently challenged tend to have certain themes in common:

What is Critical Race Theory?


Critical Race Theory is a scholarly term credited to Kimberlé

 W. Crenshaw, a Distinguished Professor of Law at Columbia Law University and UCLA 

"Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is an academic and legal framework that denotes that systemic racism is part of American society — from education and housing to employment and healthcare. Critical Race Theory recognizes that racism is more than the result of individual bias and prejudice. It is embedded in laws, policies and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities. According to CRT, societal issues like Black Americans’ higher mortality rate, outsized exposure to police violence, the school-to-prison pipeline, denial of affordable housing, and the rates of the death of Black women in childbirth are not unrelated anomalies." (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Legal Defense Fund) 

CRT has been incorrectly co-opted as a term by opponents who seek to silence discussions of diversity and inclusion in classrooms. 

What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?

 L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ is an acronym used to signify Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual people collectively. The + acknowledges additional variations in the entire gender and sexuality spectrum that letters and words do not describe yet.  (New York Times)

Why do some lawmakers want to ban Critical Race Theory?

"The term “critical race theory” [or CRT] has been co-opted by opponents as a catch-all and rallying cry to silence any discussions about systemic racism, ban the truthful teaching of American history, and reverse progress toward racial justice. The term has been unjustifiably used to include all diversity and inclusion efforts, race-conscious policies, and education about racism, whether or not they draw from CRT. Attempts to ban CRT are really attacks on free speech, on discussions about the truthful history of race and racism in the U.S., and the lived experiences of Black people and other people of color. 

Lawmakers and proponents of the bans insist they are advocating for a balanced and “patriotic” education. However, these bans do the exact opposite: deny the truth about our nation’s history, silence dissent, and punish those who speak the truth to counter whitewashed falsehoods." (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Legal Defense Fund)

LGBTQIA+ topics have also been incorrectly thrown under the co-opted umbrella of "CRT" by these opponents, and we are seeing books which cover LGBTQIA+ topics challenged and banned as well. 

Does book banning happen on both sides of the political spectrum?

"Much recent attention has centered on book-challenging efforts by conservatives. Last year, Matt Krause, a Republican in the Texas House of Representatives, distributed a watch list of 850 books that “might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex.” And Rob Standridge, a Republican state senator in Oklahoma, filed a bill to ban books that have to do with issues such as sexual orientation, sexual activity and gender identity. Book challenging is, however, a bipartisan issue. In 2019, for example, two Democratic state legislators from New Jersey lobbied for schools to stop teaching “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, because it contains racist language. And liberal parents have lobbied for books such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck to be banned, for reasons such as racist slurs and “white savior” characters." (Haupt, A., Washington Post)

What does the First Amendment say?

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” (National Coalition Against Censorship)

What is Intellectual Freedom?

"The rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment." (American Library Association) 

"The First Amendment’s right to freedom of expression encompasses intellectual freedom, which includes an individual’s right to receive information on a wide range of topics from a variety of viewpoints." (Free Speech Center, Middle Tennessee State University)