- Mahogany S.
- Thursday, June 23, 2022
Banned or challenged books help us look at the current state of society. Generally, when books are challenged, themes are present. Here is a list of works by Black authors that were challenged or banned (mostly in schools). Can you see a theme?
Every day books are challenged or outright banned in locations. Once a year, we recognize these titles and share them widely. Banned Book week ran from September 26th through October 2nd this year. Here are a list of books by Black Authors that were challenged on sexual content, racial content, divisive language, violence and/or other excuses.
Here are five from the list and the reasons they were challenged.
Things Fall Apart - 2012 - challenge in TX
The New Jim Crow - 2017 - NC Prisons - racially divisive
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - multiple years - racially divisive and deviant behavior
Go Tell It On the Mountain - multiple years - profanity and sex
Native Son - multiple years - violence, sex, and profanity
Things Fall Apart
If Beale Street Could Talk
Between the World and Me
Invisible Man
Bronx Masquerade
Beloved
The Bluest Eye
Song of Solomon
The Color Purple
Black Boy
Native Son
#OwnVoices at Richland Library is a way for African American, Hispanic, and Latino/a/e staff to provide thoughtful and well written book reviews, book lists and blog posts to promote authors of marginalized groups and their work about the life experiences of these under-represented groups through their own perspective. The series invites our customers to learn one more way we are continuing the conversation in our community and speaking our voice. Find more resources on race, equity and inclusion, here.