“Since the beginning of time, books have battled the ban!” While that may sound like a corny catchphrase, it’s undeniably true. Despite their wealth of knowledge, creativity, and imagination, which shape our understanding of the world, societies have repeatedly attempted to prohibit certain books. The fear of ideas, themes, or perspectives that existed hundreds of years ago is just as real today. The debate over book bans continues to intensify in schools, libraries, legislative halls, and even among retailers.
Proponents argue that banning books protects young audiences from inappropriate content, but critics warn that such censorship limits intellectual freedom, silences marginalized voices and undermines the very foundations of democracy. But what does banning books truly accomplish? And who gets to decide which stories are deemed unacceptable? In this blog, we explore the history of book bans, the motivations behind them, and the consequences of restricting access to literature in an age where information is more available than ever.

The history of book banning goes back to 210 B.C. when, in an attempt to control his historical narrative, Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti burned all books and buried the scholars who wrote them alive. In 35 A.D., Caligula feared The Odyssey’s  assertions of freedom and disallowed the poem from being read by Romans. Centuries later, in the 1520’s, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in London publicly burned copies of the English version of the New Testament. The Catholic Church even created a notorious banned book list, Index Librorum Prohibitorum, which lasted over 400 years!

Fast forward to the 20th century, and the trend continued. Books such as The Arabian Nights, Call of the Wild, and even The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were banned for perceived occultism. In the 1930s, the Nazis not only banned books but also burned any literature written by Jews or anyone they considered “other,” destroying invaluable works of art and knowledge.
In the mid-20th century, the publishers of Lady Chatterley’s Lover were prosecuted for publishing obscene material, while The Rabbits’ Wedding was protested in Alabama for promoting racial coexistence. Over the last 50 years, books by Maya Angelou, Salman Rushdie, Anne Frank, Beatrix Potter, J.K. Rowling, and Margaret Atwood have faced removal from library shelves, bans, and even burning for allegedly promoting witchcraft, blasphemy, vulgarity, rape, and discrimination. According to an article published by Theconversation.com, the most banned books are often “by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons.”

Throughout history, book burnings and bans have been used as tools of control by empires, governments, religious institutions, school districts, businesses, and private organizations. Censorship has been wielded as a means of intimidation and manipulation, often justified in the name of protecting children, purifying culture, or upholding religious values.
The power of the written word is so strong that, even after thousands of years and significant societal evolution, we are still fighting over books. But what are the rules today? Doesn’t the First Amendment protect our right to free speech and our ability to read whatever we choose?
According to Freedomforum.org, “book banning can violate the First Amendment rights of students and others who have a right to receive information and ideas contained in those books.” Public schools and government officials cannot ban books simply because they disagree with their ideas or viewpoints. However, private individuals, companies, and organizations are not bound by the same legal restrictions and often play a significant role in determining what is available to the public.

Censorship, particularly in the form of book banning, is an attempt to control thought, limit ideas, and suppress expression. Books have the power to educate, heal, and inspire. They challenge perspectives, provoke discussion, and drive social change. The act of banning books does not safeguard society, it suffocates progress. History has shown that silenced books equal silenced voices.

The fight against book bans is not just about preserving access to literature; it is about defending intellectual freedom and ensuring that all voices are heard. As a lover of books, especially banned books, I firmly believe that we must never stop advocating for our right to read. Because when we lose that right, we lose the ability to think freely, a battle we cannot afford to lose.

References

“Bannings and Burnings in History.” Freedom to Read, 4 July 2024, www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/.

Erica Goldberg,  Associate Professor of Law. “When Are Book Bans Unconstitutional? A First Amendment Scholar Explains.” The Conversation, 8 May 2024, theconversation.com/when-are-book-bans-unconstitutional-a-first-amendment-scholar-explains-176225.

David L. Hudson, Jr. “What Is Book Banning and Is It Unconstitutional? The Complete Guide.” Freedom Forum, 13 June 2024, www.freedomforum.org/book-banning-unconstitutional/.