The excitement of discovering a book that speaks directly to your life is a rare and powerful experience. It’s a moment of connection, a chance to see your story reflected and validated in ways that few other experiences can offer. And now, that experience is in danger of extinction.
Less than a week into Donald Trump’s second presidency, the White House declared that book bans are a hoax. In a controversial move, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released a statement dismissing complaints about book removals, including allegations that they were creating a hostile environment for students. Even more concerning, the office rescinded guidance that suggested removing age-inappropriate or sexually explicit books could violate civil rights laws.
What happens when stories that reflect the full range of human experiences are taken away, believed “inappropriate” by someone else’s standards? What happens when your life, your identity, is considered too controversial to be read or even seen? For students of color and LGBTQ+ youth, this isn’t a hypothetical threat—it’s a growing reality. Book bans and educational gag orders that were already sweeping across the nation are now effectively rubber-stamped by the president.
In recent years, book bans have skyrocketed, with many of the targeted books focused specifically on the lives of women, LGBTQ+ folks, and people of color. According to PEN America’s Freedom to Read Director, Kasey Meehan, since 2021, the organization has recorded approximately 16,000 instances of book bans. In 2023 alone, the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom reported a 65% surge in the number of unique titles targeted for censorship, reaching the highest levels in over 20 years. Of the 4,240 books that were targeted, nearly half were written by or about queer youth and youth of color. This data shows that these bans are not explicit content, they are about excluding certain stories about race, gender, and sexuality from the narrative.
Some might see this as a victory for parental control. But for students who need these books most, it’s a dangerous step backward. For these students, finding books that reflect their lived experiences isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential. These books help them understand their identities, their histories, the systemic oppression they may face and the joys of thriving despite injustice. When these books are banned, the message is clear: Your story doesn’t matter. You don’t matter.
The rise in book bans isn’t just a response to a few controversial titles; it’s part of a broader political agenda that seeks to control which stories are told. Conservative groups, often with political motives, argue that books addressing race, LGBTQ+ issues, and social justice are “divisive” or “inappropriate.” But this is not about protecting children from harmful content; it’s about erasing narratives that challenge the status quo.
The push for local control in education is often framed as a win for parents, but in practice, it’s political forces shaping the curriculum and framing the story of our collective nation. And when these forces dominate, it’s the most vulnerable students—those already underserved—who are hurt the most. It’s a loss for students who need these books the most. If we truly care about kids, we have to ask: What kind of education do we want for our children? One that reflects the world’s diversity, or one that sanitizes history and erases uncomfortable truths?
The role of education is to prepare students for the future, and that means giving them the tools to understand and navigate the world around them. But when we remove books that confront the complexities of oppression, power, and justice, we fail to equip young people with the knowledge they need to make sense of the world. This isn’t just an issue of local control or parental rights; it’s a matter of civil rights. And the fight to keep diverse books in schools is, in fact, a fight for the future of all students.
The Trump administration’s dismissal of complaints about book removals sends a clear message: Conversations and stories about race, gender and LGBTQ+ rights are too “controversial” for the classroom or anywhere else, especially if they make white people uncomfortable.
But we can refuse this narrative. Even if the Office for Civil Rights doesn’t acknowledge book bans, we can still report book challenges to organizations like the American Library Association or the National Coalition Against Censorship. We can support local libraries by checking out banned books, or we can start a banned books reading group. We can attend school board meetings and speak out about students’ right to read. We can even talk to friends and family about the freedom to read.
The books we choose to put on the shelves today will shape the minds of tomorrow. Let’s make sure those books reflect the diverse, rich, and complicated world we all live in. That is how we make America great.