Can the bans: Activists say book bans infringe on free speech

When authors dream of their literary labor of love landing at the top of a list, the one that identifies America’s banned books is certainly not what they have in mind.

And with South Carolina this year reaching a tally of 22 titles, leading the nation in the number of state-mandated school book bans, the odds are intensifying that a writer’s well-chosen words may well be barred from many shelves.

On May 6, the S.C. Board of Education voted to remove 10 books from all public schools for all grade levels, ratcheting the total books removed or restricted statewide in the Palmetto State’s public schools.

“The state is continuing to leave educational decisions for all students up to one parent,” said Josh Malkin, advocacy director for the ACLU of South Carolina, after the May vote. “This is problematic and counter to the foundational democratic ideals of public education.”

Banned Books Week

Things have taken a turn for the grimmer since last fall’s Banned Books Week. The annual event, organized by the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom in partnership with the Banned Books Week Coalition, trains a glaring book light on the proliferation of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores and schools.

Held this year from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, Banned Books Week is shaped by its rally cry for free and open access to information, galvanizing librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers and readers in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

With South Carolina in the top spot on state-mandated book bans, it’s no wonder Charleston book lovers of all stripes are brandishing their metaphorical highlighters to flag that such censure does not go unnoticed.

In the past year, book bans have also proliferated by way of other emergent mandates.
In May, My Vanishing Country, the bestselling book by former S.C. Rep. and television personality Bakari Sellers that chronicles his experiences growing up Black in Denmark, S.C., was banned from the U.S. Naval Academy library. The ban followed a mandate from Defense Secretery Pete Hegseth’s office that the military academy pull 400 titles concerning diversity, equity and inclusion.

Similarly, Shackles, a children’s book by Marjory Wentworth, was among 10 titles that had been marked for compliance review by the staff at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park. The book is currently sold out at the store and no bans have been communicated to park staff.

Wentworth, the former poet laureate of South Carolina who now resides in Springfield, Ohio, knows a thing or two about banned books. For 10 years, she taught a class on banned books at the College of Charleston. It was then that she began to see patterns with banning emanating from organizations like the John Birch Society and, most recently, Moms for Liberty.

“When you’re trying to accelerate the whitewashing of history, it fits into this larger effort to keep this information from everyone, whether it’s children or a website or a book or wall text,” she said this week.

Combatting censorship

Charleston’s Academic Magnet High School student Kate Selvitelli started the school’s Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization (DAYLO) chapter in 2023, quickly growing it to 100 students, the largest chapter in the state.

Selvitelli is among the three South Carolina students featured in Banned Together, a recent feature-length documentary charting the chapter’s efforts to combat censorship. The film is currently available on Apple TV+, Kanopy and Amazon Prime.

Banned Together includes ample footage involving Moms for Liberty. The group has a statewide stronghold in the business of banning books, powered by their presence at school board meetings and also at the level of the S.C. State Board of Education, by way of its alliance with conservative State Superintendent Ellen Weaver.

For Banned Books Week, Selvitelli’s chapter will be busy.

On the Friday before Banned Books Week, Oct. 3, members will decorate a large bulletin board near the school library sharing titles of banned books and the reasons why they are being banned, as well as statistics and postcards for students to use to write to legislators.

Throughout the school week, DAYLO members will broadcast over the school announcement system regarding book bans, which books are banned in South Carolina and or what can be learned from a specific book.

On Oct. 6, members will write postcards to librarians, teachers, administrators, legislatures, state board of education members and school board members.

“For those who have the power to make decisions about what’s in all public schools, we’ll address the 22 books that have been banned in South Carolina, along with having students say why they want these books to remain in public schools,” Selvitelli said.

From 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 10, the group is hosting a family-friendly teddy bear picnic at the Park Circle playground with high school students reading to younger children.

On Oct. 11, the chapter will join forces with Buxton Books on a speaker event weighing in on the effects of banning.

From words to action

Thanks to Charleston’s strong showing of independent bookstores, interested readers of any age and interest still have a means to discover these books — and to learn more about the continued threat of banning them.

On Oct. 5 at 5 p.m., North Charleston’s Itinerate Literate Books will spotlight Banned Books Week at Commonhouse Aleworks via an Anti-Censorship Panel in partnership with ACLU of South Carolina that features an expert panel of educators and journalists.

On Oct. 11, the bookshop will host a banned bookswap party, inviting all to its “Be a Couragous Reader Bingo Challenge” by bringing a favorite banned or frequently challenged book to the store to swap with like-minded readers, and take advantage of a Banned Books photo-op.

At any given day at Philosophers and Fools, a bookstore bar in downtown Charleston, banners declaring “Read Banned Books” and “Abide No Hatred” are mounted on shelves, which also feature a selection of banned books available for purchase.

Jenny Ferrara, who co-owns the business with her husband Michael Bourke, said ensuring these works are represented is important to them both–and embraces the store’s ethos to bring people together.

“We want to be a place where no matter what you’re into reading, you can walk in and find something you’re looking for. We believe that reading builds empathy and that it helps you step into other people’s shoes, [people who] you might not interact with in daily life,” she said.

The proprietors say they also keep an eye on what’s being banned both in South Carolina and nationally, noting that most of the silenced voices involve communities such as LGBTQ, women, Black and other marginalized groups.

The banned books banner positioned prominently behind the bar often sparks exchange.
“Some people are aware but not to the extent of book banning currently, and some aren’t aware, so it’s an opportunity for us to have a discussion and to talk about it and start a little layer of education on what’s going on,” she said.

In addition to displaying the banned titles throughout the week, on Oct. 6, from 6:30 p.m. to7:30 p.m., the shop is hosting a read-in by way of Libro.fm, which partners with bookstores to sell audiobooks. Attendees will receive a free audiobook of Kirsten Miller’s novel Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books.

At Buxton Books on King Street, co-founder Polly Buxton said she is fully on board with Banned Books Week, explaining that the role of independent bookstores has never been more urgent.
“Every voice deserves a place on the shelf,” she said, observing that when books disappear from classrooms and school libraries, these businesses can step in as sanctuaries.

“What we’ve seen since last year’s Banned Books Week is not a retreat but an escalation, which only deepens our resolve to provide access, foster conversation and defend the freedom to read.”

Beyond the Oct. 11 event that is in the works with Selvitelli, Buxton Books has commissioned Diana Hambleton and a team of young artists to create new window displays around the theme “The Great American Story,” to be installed later this fall.

The windows will feature four iconic American authors, including the frequently banned Toni Morrison.

Spreading the word

For those interested in supporting Banned Books Week, Selvitelli recommends telling people about banned books and the national week.

“Many people don’t know anything about book bans or that it’s happening across America. As a country that was built on the freedom of speech and beliefs, book banning goes completely against our foundation that so many people are currently fighting for,” she said.

“There are many politicians who argue for freedom of speech but are supporting these book bans. If someone begins to share this with others and make voters recognize what’s happening, we could change who’s in office.”

The high school senior’s advice is to speak at meetings, call or email or write postcards to representatives, school boards, the state board of education, as well as teachers, administrators and librarians.

“It never has to be anything political or angry. Instead focus on how bad book banning is for students,” she said.

“Our voice is our power, and people should use it however they can.”

On Oct. 11, Banned Books Week launches its annual Let Freedom Read Day, encouraging everyone to take at least one action to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers and booksellers who make them available. Its action one-sheet, as well as information, is available at bannedbooksweek.org.