By: Dr. Phyllis Bivins-Hudson
Book banning ties into deeper issues of education, freedom, and critical thinking.
That’s why my October Blog and Instagram Lives for the month of October featured the topic Book Banning along with guests, Wade and Cheryl Hudson, from Just Us Books Publishing Company, and Tamara Waye, Chairperson of Arts and Letters of North Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
My November blog continues the conversation while expanding into related territory.
November invites us to slow down, take stock, and give thanks—or family, for community, and for the quiet freedoms we often overlook. Among those freedoms is one that sits quietly on a library shelf: the freedom to read.
A freedom that did not come freely for many people in this country. In October, I wrote about the troubling rise of book banning and the movement that seeks to limit the stories available to us and to our children.
This month, I want to turn that concern into gratitude—gratitude for the teachers who introduce young minds to new ideas, for the librarians who refuse to let voices be silenced, and for every reader who dares to open a book that challenges, inspires, or changes them.
Why Access to Books Is About More Than Reading
Access to books is about more than literacy; it’s about liberation.
Every story we encounter expands our world a little more, inviting us to see through another person’s eyes, to question assumptions, and to understand experiences different from our own.
When we seek to secure this liberation for young readers who discover characters who look like them or face challenges they recognize, they learn that their lives matter. When they encounter stories far from their own reality, they develop empathy and curiosity—two qualities our society desperately needs.
Reading doesn’t just teach facts or vocabulary; it nurtures the imagination and moral courage necessary for thoughtful citizenship. A banned book might make some uncomfortable, but that very discomfort is often what prompts growth and opportunity for exploration and research.
The ability to engage with complex, even conflicting ideas is what prepares students—and all of us—to participate meaningfully in a diverse and democratic world that is far bigger than one culture.
The Human Cost of Limiting Stories
When a book is banned, it’s not just words on a page that are silenced—it’s the lived experiences, identities, and truths of real people.
Each removed story sends an unspoken message about whose voices are worthy of being heard and whose are not. When classrooms and libraries narrow their shelves, they narrow the perspectives of the students who depend on them to learn about the wider world.
As discussed on one of my October IG Lives, imagine telling your story, only to be reminded that your story doesn’t have a place in this society because it makes others feel uncomfortable. Just imagine!
Censorship isn’t about the protection of children; it restricts their ability to think critically and form their own values. Shielding students from difficult topics doesn’t erase those realities — it only leaves them less equipped to understand or navigate them.
Stories that confront issues like race, identity, trauma, and justice may be uncomfortable, but they are also the very stories that can heal, awaken, educate, and empower.
When a society learns how to approach these topics with honesty and full transparency, then the conversation about books and those uncomfortable topics can find a place in all our lives.
In the end, book banning isn’t about removing content; it’s about removing context. And when we remove context, we remove understanding — the bridge that connects us.
Gratitude for the Gatekeepers Who Keep Doors Open
In every community, there are quiet champions who protect the right to read. They are the teachers who slip a powerful book into a student’s hands because they see a spark of curiosity.
Or the teachers who introduce “forbidden” literature in a novel way to pique students’ curiosity to the point of captivation. They are the librarians who defend inclusive collections when the pressure to censor grows loud.
They are the parents who encourage questions at the dinner table instead of shutting them down. They are the local publishers who work tirelessly to keep their book audience awed with wonder, excitement, and a thirst for what’s next.
These individuals remind us that access to knowledge is never guaranteed—it must be safeguarded. Their courage is often quiet, but its impact is profound. Because of them, stories that challenge, comfort, and connect us remain within reach. In a time when so many voices are being pushed to the margins, these gatekeepers ensure that the next generation can find itself—and its empathy—in the pages of a book.
As we give thanks this season, let us remember that the freedom to read survives only because someone, somewhere, continues to defend it whether locally, nationally, or globally.
A Call to Action—Keep the Pages Turning
Gratitude is not only about reflection; it’s about action. This season, we can honor the freedom to read by actively supporting it.
Visit your local library, donate books that reflect diverse voices, or attend community reading events. Encourage young readers to explore stories that challenge their thinking and broaden their perspectives. Challenge social groups that have the power to showcase authors in ways that invite community members to engage.
Every book we read, share, or defend is a small act of resistance against censorship and a celebration of intellectual freedom.
By keeping the pages turning, we not only preserve access to knowledge but also cultivate empathy, understanding, and courage in ourselves and in the next generation.
In the season of thanks, let us give our gratitude wings—not just in words, but in deeds that ensure every voice has a chance to be heard.
Until next time, keep flying on your own wings!