Book banning is not a new phenomenon; it has been happening for centuries. The first book ban in the United States occurred in 1637 in what is now known as Quincy, Massachusetts. Thomas Morton published his book "New English Canaan," which was subsequently banned by the Puritan government because it was considered a harsh and heretical critique of Puritan customs and power structures.
Bannings and Burnings in History is a comprehensive list of book bans that have happened around the world going as far back as 259 BC. It is a testament to the idea that there have always been people trying to silence ideas they do not like, and simultaneously a showing of the power of literature to endure through time.
History of Book Bans-- and Their Changing Targets-- in the United States is a National Geographic article that recounts a brief history of book banning from early colonial times to the present. This article provides insight into how the targets of book bans have shifted through the years to adapt to the pressing social issues of the time.
A Brief History of Banned Books in America from the Smithsonian Magazine provides both a written and audio option to learn about the ways book bans have changed through the years. Formatted as an interview with a librarian, there are some good insights in this piece.
Manuscripts Don't Burn from PEN America is a recounting of notorious book bans from all over the world, dating back for hundreds of years. This guide highlights the things not discussed in typical articles about American book bans and goes to show the larger issue at hand when discussing matters of censorship.
The History (and Present) of Banning Books in America is a Literary Hub article that discusses the history, legality, past and current state of censorship in the United States.
From the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Who initiates challenges?
Prior to 2020, the vast majority of challenges to library books and resources were brought by a single parent who sought to remove or restrict access to a book their child was reading. Recent censorship data are evidence of a growing, well-organized, conservative political movement, the goals of which include removing books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health from America's public and school libraries that do not meet their approval. Using social media and other channels, these groups distribute book lists to their local chapters and individual adherents, who then utilize the lists to initiate a mass challenge that can empty the shelves of a library. In 2024, nearly 72% of challenges were brought by pressure groups and decision makers who were swayed by them.
Where do challenges take place?
Books and Beyond
Books are not the sole target of attacks orchestrated by conservative parent groups and right-wing media. Both school and public librarians are increasingly in the crosshairs of conservative groups during book challenges and subject to defamatory name-calling, online harassment, social media attacks, and doxxing, as well as direct threats to their safety, their employment, and their very liberty.
From the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
From the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
The most common themes in book challenges include:
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