By Anna Leroux 

Under the guise of protecting minors and students, Arkansas has managed to ban hundreds of books across various counties, further silencing already marginalized voices. In 2023, Governor Sarah Huckabee signed Act 372, which criminalizes educators and librarians by making it a misdemeanor to provide book recommendations now deemed “harmful material” to minors. This act was advertised as a way for parents to be more involved with their children’s education and content intake by helping limit “pornographic materials.” However, the implications of this legislation are alarming as the punishment equates a book recommendation to a drug offense.

Eighteen educators and librarians sued the state of Arkansas for the stripping of their protection’s and a federal judge agreed to block two parts of the act, stating it violated two parts of the First Amendment: unconstitutional vagueness and content restriction. 

The push for book bans, especially under the pretense of protecting vulnerable minors, both undermines educational integrity and deprives students of diverse prospective development that makes them more meaningful contributors to general society. Kady Grisso, a U of A freshman and criminology major, said, “It’s weird to see books that I read for school now restricted in their libraries.” 

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas was once on some districts’ required reading lists but has recently been banned in North Little Rock School District, Fayetteville School District and Cabot School District for depictions of racism and police brutality.

Ella Nations, a U of A junior English major and a coordinator for the Passionate About Literacy student organization, has expressed concern for now limiting children’s access to diverse literature.

“Book bans eliminate critical aspects of communications,” Nations said. “Learning to discuss sensitive subjects is an important skill that we gain through reading.” 

Learning to discuss sensitive subjects expands across both identity and the events that persecute them. Bryant School District has removed “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Diary of Anne Frank” and replaced them with higher-level nonfiction readings. 

These works address themes of racism, human rights, and more complexity that are all crucial to fostering empathy and critical thinking in students. Sanitizing curriculums of challenging subjects risks raising students who are deprived of the opportunity to both confront and understand history. This approach not only aligns with the troubling implications of Act 372 but also signals the spreading trend of evading difficult conversations that are necessary for intellectual growth. 

The reality is book bans hinder people’s ability to engage with controversial, challenging topics and explore diverse experiences safely through text. By denying access to materials that safely address and portray race, LGBTQIA+, and identity, we are limiting people’s cultivation of empathy and in turn, only making it harder for them to navigate the diverse real world. 

“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, which addresses gender identity and sexuality, has faced bans in multiple districts such as Jonesboro School District due to its concerns about graphic content. This book, which provides critical perspectives on LGBTQIA+ experiences, is often targeted for its illustrations and discussions of identity. 

Quinnette Rogers, a U of A graduate assistant with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International and Global Studies, and Latin American and Latino Studies, also expressed concern for book banning with the historical context that it is often used as a tool for oppression. 

“In my experience, students are often aware, to varying degrees, of the implications such bans have on their ability to engage with challenging or marginalized subjects,” Rogers said. “However, they may not fully grasp the broader systemic impact on education and social progress until it is critically discussed in academic settings.”

As more and more materials are restricted, students will stop remembering what it was like to have access to all of these books. Rogers said, “Facilitating discussions about why certain texts are labeled as ‘taboo’ encourages students to explore who benefits from their exclusion.” 

Arkansas Central Library System champions access to diverse literature, especially during Banned Book Week Sep. 22-28. To express their support for intellectual freedom to their community, the library system encourages readers to engage with an adult book that has been banned somewhere to broaden their perspective.

Several classic works on this list from Arkansas Central Library System have been facing bans across Arkansas school districts.“The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck has been challenged in North Little Rock School District, Benton School District and Bryant School District due to concerns about themes of poverty and the criticism of capitalism. ”Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe has faced book bans for depictions deemed controversial on race and slavery in Little Rock School District, Pulaski County Special School District and Fayetteville School District. Similarly, “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller has been removed from school libraries for profanity and anti-war sentiment in the Fayetteville School District. 

The titles mentioned are only a fraction of the diverse voices that have been silenced in Arkansas as well as internationally, highlighting a broader trend of censorship that disproportionately affects marginalized communities. These books not only reflect important narratives but also serve as vital tools for understanding them. In confronting the realities of censorship, it is necessary to advocate for intellectual freedom and growth to ensure students have access to literature about various identities so they can explore them in a safe way to cultivate empathy, critical thinking and human experience. Without these essential conversations, we risk perpetuating ignorance in future generations.