Read. Resist. Remember.
It's Banned Books Week—a reminder of just how much power the truth still holds. Every school year, they come for our stories, our art, our history. And every DAY, we remind them that we've been documenting, teaching, creating, and telling the truth long before they tried to silence it.
As a Black woman, a parent, and a creative who’s always loved our stories, this irks my soul! I'm not gonna lie! So many of the books that shaped how I saw the world growing up—the ones by Maya Angelou, Zora Neale Hurston, and others (including my beloved Judy Blume too!)—are on these banned lists. There's also stories my sons grew up with, like The Hate U Give and New Kid, on the list, too.
They're even banning children’s books like Hair LoveandI Love My Hair!Stories that simply celebrate Black joy, family and self-love. It’s not just the history (or critical thinking) that they fear. It’s the truth of who we are, the beauty in our everyday lives, and the fact that our existence doesn’t need permission.
How You Can Join the Resistance
Here are a few ways to keep truth alive this week and beyond:
Read the banned books.
Start with The Bluest Eye, The Hate U Give, The 1619 Project, or revisit a classic that changed you.
Support Black-owned bookstores.
They’re the heartbeat of our communities and keep our stories in circulation.
→ Find one near you via AALBC.com ›
Speak up. Share. Post.
Every conversation matters. Every repost, every quote, every t-shirt worn in public keeps truth visible.
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