A report by PEN America reveals that over 10,000 book bans occurred in US public schools during the 2023-24 school year, predominantly affecting works featuring people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The increase in bans correlates with new censorship laws in Republican-led states, countering conservative claims about the nature of the banned content. The study highlights that 36% of banned books included people of color, representing a systemic issue of erasure and marginalization. Advocates argue that this censorship undermines the diverse representation necessary for education and cultural awareness among students.
The targeted censorship amounts to a harmful assault on historically marginalized populations, an effort to erase their stories and achievements from schools.
Books featuring people of color were disproportionately targeted, with 44% of banned titles including people of color, revealing systemic bias in censorship.
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