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Aired Feb 10, 2022

Another Day, Another Book Ban

The American Library Association estimates that more than 80% of book challenges go unreported and receive no media coverage. Yet somehow, it seems like we can’t go a day without hearing about another book ban. That’s why we’re asking PFLAG members and supporters to #ReadWithLove. This episode of Something To Talk About Live, we will be discussing Michael Arceneaux’s article in The Week, “Book banning is back, and it’s targeting Black folks“ with David F. Walker, award-winning comic book writer, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. 

Something to Talk About Live is a series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to create conversation about LGBTQ+ issues. Each week we offer an article on LGBTQ+ topics and suggest a few questions you can use to lead a discussion with your ERG, community group, or PFLAG chapter. 

We hosted a conversation about this article as a part of PFLAG Connects and Something to Talk About Live on Thursday, February 10. Did you miss it? You can still watch it here! 

Article: Book banning is back, and it’s targeting Black folks

Source: The Week

Author: Michael Arceneaux

Questions for Discussion:

  1. There has been a significant increase in book bans in recent months. In your opinion, why do you think that is the case? Where are these challenges coming from? Why are they targeting books written by, for, and about marginalized groups?

  2. The author of this article notes that many banned books have seen a recent increase in sales, but that doesn’t comfort him because of the fact that they were challenged in the first place and remain out of reach for the young people who need access to them the most.  What do you think of his assessment? Is there anything that you would add?

  3. What can parents, families, and allies do to challenge book bans that pop up in their community? What can they do to ensure that young people have access to books that have been banned?  

Bonus read: Check out “This great wave of American book-banning is not slowing down” which appeared in Literary Hub, by Jonny Diamond, the American Library Association’s resources on Banned & Challenged Books, and this brand new campaign from Red, Wine, & Blue called Book Ban Busters.

About Our Guest:

David F. Walker, award-winning comic book writer, filmmaker, journalist, and educator

Ways to Watch:

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