While we often think of books being challenged and banned under authoritarian regimes or in more conservative areas of the US, such as Florida or Texas, California has had its own share of challenges and bans. Over the past several years, California libraries and schools have had to deal with an increasing number of books being challenged, pulled from library shelves, or banned from classroom instruction.
In 2022, California faced 32 attempted book bans for 87 titles (American Library Association [ALA], 2023). Based on the data from ALA, most books were challenged in California were challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, with many also discussing racism and other difficult topics (Chen, 2023).
This year, a book display at Rancho Peñasquitos Library, part of the San Diego Public Library, had books stolen from it due to the materials being seen as inappropriate for children (Cowan, 2023). In response, the San Diego Community donated books, resources, and money to replace the stolen materials, leading the library to create a collection of LGBTQIA+ materials year-round. (These books are available to SDSU students through Circuit.)
References
Chen, S. (2023, April 27). Top challenged books in California focused on LGBTQ themes. Axios San Francisco. https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/04/27/california-book-ban-censorship-2022
Cowan, J. (2023, July 22). They checked out pride books in protest. It backfired. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/22/us/pride-books-library-protest
Gonzalez, C. (2023, May 25). 'Angels in America' reading assignment causing uproar from parents in Temecula. Fox 11 Los Angeles. https://www.foxla.com/news/angels-in-america-reading-assignment-causing-uproar-from-parents-in-temecula
Horseman, J. (2023, June 28). New policy on explicit books, materials proposed in Temecula schools. The Press-Enterprise. https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/06/28/new-policy-on-explicit-books-materials-proposed-in-temecula-schools/
Horseman, J. (2023, August 14). California teacher on leave after ‘Angels in America’ controversy hopes to return to class. The Mercury News. https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/08/14/temecula-teacher-on-leave-after-angels-in-america-controversy-hopes-to-return-to-class/
National Coalition Against Censorship. (2020, November 17). California school district considers ban on classic books. https://ncac.org/news/california-book-challenge-2020
Spocchia, G. (2022, March 31). Gavin Newsom mocked for complaining about ‘banned’ books – including one removed from schools in his own state. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/gavin-newsom-to-kill-mockingbird-harper-lee-b2048344.html
Stiles, A. T. (2022, September 4). Book banning is a concerning trend in the golden state. Post News Group. https://www.postnewsgroup.com/book-banning-is-a-concerning-trend-in-the-golden-state/
Whitehead, B. (2020, February 11). Colton school district removes ‘The Bluest Eye’ from classroom reading list. The San Bernardino Sun. https://www.sbsun.com/2020/02/11/colton-school-district-removes-the-bluest-eye-from-classroom-reading-list/
Zornosa, L. (2020, October 1). Why an L.A.-area school district banned, then quietly reinstated Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye.’ The Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-10-01/banned-book-reinstated-toni-morrison-the-bluest-eye
This display was curated by Cat Ellis, Health Sciences Librarian.
