There’s more than 350+ books banned in the state of Florida. Governor Ron De Santis has vowed to “end leftism” in America while proclaiming Florida is where ” woke goes to die”.
Florida’s been banning a lot of things these days.
From an AP African American studies course to classroom gender-identity discussions to TikTok on university phones, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and the state’s Republican-dominated legislature have instituted a dizzying number of regulations restricting what Floridians can say, read, and scroll through mindlessly. It’s part of a nationwide push by conservative politicians to draw their battle lines in the culture wars and signal to their constituency that they’re decidedly anti-woke.
Well luckily DeSantis doesn’t control the internet and information is easily accessible. The nation has seen a surge in book bans over the past two years as parents, conservative activists, and elected officials have flooded school districts with requests to wipe scores of titles from classrooms and libraries — with Florida still leading the pack in such incidents.
PEN America’s previous Banned in the USA reports, the movement to ban books that has grown since 2021 is deeply undemocratic, as it seeks to impose restrictions on all students and families based on the preferences of a few parents or community members. The nature of this movement is not one of isolated challenges to books by parents in different communities; rather, it is an organized effort by advocacy groups and state politicians with the ultimate aim of limiting access to certain stories, perspectives, and information.
We’ve compiled a list of books that have been banned and others that are a must read to hone one’s perspective and cultivate cultural appreciation for others in America and beyond. Knowledge combats ignorance by way of awareness.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
Race and Policing in Modern America by Duchess Harris
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
I Know Why A Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Theirs Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
We’ll be updating this list with new titles banned and otherwise, doing our part to combat hate and censorship. Enjoy!
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