Turn the Page on Censorship! 4 Activities in the U.S. for Fans of Banned Books Mary Zakheim September 9, 2016 Arts & History This post was updated May 19, 2023 As with the fabled apple in the Garden of Even, humans just can’t resist what remains forbidden. And, as any avid reader will tell you, this is especially true with books. No matter if they’ve been blacklisted because of mature themes of for cynical political gain, banned books hold an irresistible appeal. And that’s why we celebrate them every year! Banned Books Week pays respect to those books that, at any point in time, have been prohibited by the powers that be and holier than thou. And you can celebrate these books yourself by planning a trip around your passion towards these literary outcasts. Here’s a list of cool events to enjoy banned books across America. To paraphrase comedian Paula Poundstone, “Banning books? In 2023? Did we learn nothing from Footloose?” Revolution Books – Berkeley, CA Revolution Books is at the forefront of private booksellers’ fight against book banning and censorship. Each year during Banned Books Week, Revolution Books hosts lectures on censorship, some of which are led by professors from the nearby University of California at Berkeley. In years past, lectures have delved into the wider implications of censorship and its use as a weapon by fascist regimes throughout history. Run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers, Revolution Books hopes to create a dialogue through literature. Brimming with books on politics and philosophy, Revolution Books and its staff members hope to bridge the divide between people of various political affiliations and make it easier for guests to shop for censored literature by devoting an entire section to banned books. New York Public Library In case you needed any more reasons to plan a trip to New York, you should know that the New York Public Library pulls all the stops in their efforts to inform the community of the important forms of storytelling found in banned books through numerous events at its various branches. During Banned Books Week, the library holds talks and lectures about banned books and the harmful effects of censorship. In years past, some of the world’s most famous authors, including Toni Morrison and Angela Davis, have stopped by to offer their opinion on censorship and how it is the duty of today’s writers to safeguard the public’s right to knowledge. In addition to shining the spotlight on censorship during Banned Books Week, the NYPL also offers events throughout the year for those interested in the fight against book. Each month, the library holds virtual Banned Book Club meetings during which the public is encouraged to read banned books and talk about them with experts on the subject. The library also gives away select banned books throughout the year and even offers free digital downloads of a curated list of censored literature. Productions of Alabama Story Playwright Kenneth Jones dramatizes the issues of book bans and censorship in his play Alabama Story. Set in the Deep South in 1959, Alabama Story follows Emily Reed, a high-ranking official in the Alabama Public Library Service Division. Based on a true story, the play concerns Reed’s defense of the children’s book The Rabbits’ Wedding, which depicts a marriage between a white rabbit and a black rabbit. She read through the book and found no objectionable material, but she drew the ire of segregationist politicians, who viewed the book as supporting interracial marriage. The play premiered in Utah in 2015, and has since become the staple of the theater world, with productions in 45 cities, with more occurring each year. While theater lovers will appreciate Jones’ razor-sharp wit, general audiences will appreciate the production’s nuanced message against censorship through the lens of the Civil Rights Era. You may also like: Love Books? Check Into These 5 International Literary Hotels Chapel Hill Public Library “Exterior 1, Chapel Hill Public Library” is licensed under CC BY 2.0 The freedom to read is the centerpiece of Chapel Hill Public Library’s Banned Books Community Read Aloud, an event that has been a fixture of the town’s Banned Books Week observance for the past decade. During the event, members of the community are invited to the library and to read excerpts from their favorite banned books, whether they be children’s books like Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White or books with more mature themes like Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Associates with the library ask guests of the Read Aloud to consider why the books were banned and decide for themselves if the material is objectionable. In addition to the Read Aloud, the Chapel Hill Public Library also hosts lectures on censorship during the event and exhibits a gallery of banned book trading cards, one of the most popular draws of Chapel Hill’s Banned Books Week event. Reason enough to visit our friends in North Carolina. Do you know of any other event about banned books in the U.S.? Let us know in our comments section below!
