Juliana Catania

Abstract:

Books that deal with important topics such as discrimination, self identity, and the lived experiences of historically marginalized communities are being challenged and banned. These challenges are often instigated by those who wish to push their own ideas and values onto entire school communities. This movement to ban books in public schools across the United States directly harms students attending these institutions, as book banning has been utilized as a weapon to target student identity and individuality. This action directly erases student voices and lived experiences from the curriculum, which silences narratives that would otherwise promote inclusion and equity.