Every fall, Banned Books Week reminds us of a truth we’d rather not face: in a country that prides itself on free speech, entire shelves of stories are still being silenced.
In 2025, the fight against censorship is more urgent than ever. Last year alone, over 1900 books were challenged or removed from schools and libraries. And the patterns are clear: the majority of these books: Black voices, LGBTQ + identities, histories of oppression, and uncomfortable truths about America’s past and present.
Why Are Books Still Being Banned?
Censorship is rarely about protecting readers – it’s about controlling what we know and who gets to shape the story. Books that highlight racism, inequality, gender identity, or political resistance are often targeted because they force us to face realities some would rather erase.
When a book like "The New Jim Crow" is challenged, the message is clear: someone fears what happens when everyday people understand how systems of power really work.
When a memior like "Redefining Realness " is removed from shelves, it says that voices outside the mainstreem – especially trans, Blacks, and marginalized voices – are still seen as threats rather that truth worth hearing.
What We Lose When We Silence Books
Every time a book disappears, so does a piece of our collective memory. Without them:
*Students lose access to history. Books like “Before the Mayflower” and “March” tells stories left out of standard textbooks.
*Communities lose empathy. Stories like “Push” or Heavy put us inside lives that might be different from our own, reminding us of our shared humanity.
*Future leaders lose guidance. A teenagers searching for identity, justice, or belonging might never find the words that help them stand tall.
Why They Still Matter in 2025
Books matter because they don’t just tell stories – they spark movements. They inspire action. They remind us that someone before us dared to speak up, write it down, and share it.
In 2025, the stakes are even higher. In a world of soundbites and algorithms, book are some of the last places where nuance, complexity, and truth live. That’s why banning them isn’t just an atack on authors – it’s an attack on our right to think, to question, and to imagine a better future.
What You Can Do
*Read the banned books. Make space for the voices others want to silence.
*Share them. Post about what you’re reading, join a banned book club, or gift a banned book to someone.
*Support platforms that fight back. Independent bookstores, educators, and communities are keeping these stories alive