America’s Book Bans: The Latest Culture War Front | The Daily Show

[@melaniedew511]

I'm a librarian. After hearing about Dragonwings getting banned today, I decided I should make a display of these books that are getting banned right now. But I can't. Why? Because as soon as a book gets banned, all the copies get checked out because people want to see for themselves what is so bad about it. That is the only upside to these bannings, which I hate with every particle of my soul. Seeing LaVar Burton here standing up for banned books made me tear up. Thank you for that!

[@HashknightGaming]

I am still crying feels like they are attacking my very childhood.

[@deirdredraginoff3760]

You're a hero.

[@jc.1191]

Reading Rainbow himself 🙂

[@bestgrandma2844]

So I guess the silver lining to all the "shared psychosis" these Americans have is that our children are learning more about our history and stepping out of their comfort zones to hopefully understand what other Americans have to deal with. Thank you for providing this pro to book bans.

[@ptr_strzk]

Wait if they come back, in ashes.

[@clairemoniz4341]

I literally read “Ruby Bridges Goes to School” to my first graders today. My first graders were so impressed with her heroism and bravery in the face of ignorance and hate. Kids are smarter than a lot of adults. Still true today!

[@fortheloveofchocolat]

I used to read it to my 2nd graders. They were always impressed by her bravery.

[@sassysarina9718]

Excellent

[@staticking1626]

America is a functioning 3rd world country with a Gucci belt...

[@ilikeycoloralot]

Thank you to all teachers like you!

[@justify798]

@@staticking1626 I liken it to a 🐷 with a golden ring in it's snout. It is the epitome of complete hypocrisy, evil and debauchery all rolled into one.

[@helena8999]

The sheer irony of books about Ruby Bridges being banned from schools, or suggesting that books like Fahrenheit 451 be burned, is outright satirical.

[@melaniedew511]

If a six-year-old girl can get through what Ruby Bridges did, other six-year-olds should be able to read her story.

[@nocontextwhatever]

America: the satire

[@1bendykat]

Banning Maus and not Mein Kampf is telling.

[@caseypardini9191]

Ah, yes. “It’s like poetry… it rhymes.” The book predicting the burning of books is being burned.

[@Wolfspaule]

No it is not, it is a comment on the US education system!

[@jeannevandehy2232]

I grew up in the Texas panhandle in the 1980's, where books, music, television, etc were banned, but I was raised by parents who taught me that the reason these things are banned are because they don't want you to question authority and they don't want critical thinkers. The main problem my parents had with schools was that they have you memorize information instead of think the information through. They provide you with multiple choice tests, as if those can be the only answers, and then we wonder why we are in the predicament we are in in this country at this moment. When you allow your children to take in the information and think for themselves, you might be amazed at the answers they might come up with to fix our ills.

[@mad_cat_1st]

Well said. Here's to home schooling!

[@HelenaBKay]

That was real? I thought it was just an exaggerated storyline in footloose 🤨

[@meb777]

Right on...

[@HelenaBKay]

@@mad_cat_1st that'll make your kids socially incompatible little monsters. Plus, they'll hate you as parents enough already. No need to double that feeling by adding the teacher role on top...

[@eavyeavy2864]

The bad ones think and arrive at trepublican gate

[@cartoonraccoon2078]

The part that bothers me the most is this teaches kids that the way to deal with something you don't like is to DESTROY IT.

[@dewaynerawlings4971]

Or cancel it

[@cheesecakelasagna]

They're sheltering their kids to the point of stupidity! They'll grow up socially dumb.

[@pepin0man908]

That's the problem of today. 50 years ago if you didn't like somthing or someone you'd stay away from it, nowadays if people don't like somthing they feel like they have to get rid of it.

[@29sentz]

Because it's "uncomfortable"

[@Sinister-Kane]

You know who else banned and burned books as part of their agenda? …well, I know because I had to read a lot of history books about it in school … Greetings from Germany!

[@masakazuishiguro8525]

Greetings from China, too.

[@wardenm]

They just had a giant book burning in Tennessee a week or two ago, yeah. Friggin frightening to see.

[@draochvar9646]

Yea. I extended that to reading a lot of history texts in uni and boi do the similarities unnerve me.

[@PrincessPowerUp]

This comment has gravity 👓

[@C-Ra]

Nice

[@Leonaza7]

No matter how atrocious or uncomfortable the lessons of History are....it is still VERY necessary for them to be taught, perhaps more NOW than EVER.

[@Leonaza7]

Historically, there’s only one kind of person who would ban books. And they’re never remembered favorably.

[@davidg9307]

Exactly

[@RIPGojothestrongest]

True

[@arno_grnfld455]

They are burning the banned books, that reminded me of 1930s Germany

[@davel9514]

@@Leonaza7 I wouldn't salute them even if you forced me to

[@phelanwolf6747]

To solve the issue the parents must proof that they did read the "offensive" books themselves and write an essay about them without copy pasting from other parents.

[@tknighton23]

This is genius

[@g.d.graham2446]

Indeed

[@prezbige]

Lol got em

[@markelly-de1hy]

Absolutely!!!

[@genxtech5584]

Bold of you to assume that the parents doing this can read..

[@ateamfan42]

"Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself." -- Potter Stewart

[@Marcofromda510]

The people who defend racists statues as "part of history" are the same ones who want to ban books about Ruby 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@avril6922]

Say it louder!

[@thepragmaticchoice]

“America is the land of the free” that’s the greatest joke in history

[@fortnox5e1h73]

only when it appeals to thier agenda is when its "the land of the free"

[@adityashandilya2789]

@Samuel Tan Zhao Yang A little exaggerated but ok

[@yoboo6167]

If you wanna see how free you really are, just don't pay your taxes.

[@Jay-rd3hn]

It’s surprising for Americans to see that America 🇺🇸 is not the land of the free but free for white supremacy cowards. If white are against something in America 🇺🇸 it’s illegal or if they see a black man running 🏃‍♂️ in their neighbourhood they consider him criminals or illegal for being there.

[@marioozzie]

It's not free, it's $10,000!!! :)

[@1IGG]

As German I have one advice: run, leave that cesspool behind you. It always starts with book burnings.

[@dc3428]

I agree. Thanks for the heads up. The US held huge Natzi rallies before and are now banning books during a huge rise in fascism.

[@malumachado4561]

Weird how the left blames the right for banning books and the right blames the left. Who's driving this tour bus?

[@spajas8092]

@@malumachado4561 human stupidity

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Already ahead of you by years. I've tried to convince my family, but they want to stay over there. I'm so glad I don't have children and never will. Nor do I want to go back there.

[@Khronogi]

@@malumachado4561 well for what reason are either side banning books? And what books are either side actually banning?

[@Dodgerific]

Seeing that librarian hiding her identity is super dystopian

[@Andreywatchlist]

What's dystopian

[@Andreywatchlist]

?

[@laurenconrad1799]

@@Andreywatchlist I can’t tell if that’s a sarcastic question or a serious question.

[@1truek269]

Sad state of affairs and Republicans are all in for it.

[@lindseypayton5586]

This reminds me of "Fahrenheit 451" which is a dystopian society where books are banned and the fire dept. goes and burns them. But don't say it's a book, they'll ban that too 😅

[@hgoodman5965]

I remember when the school librarian pulled "Forever" by Judy Blume from our school library because parents were so "concerned". After I finished reading the school copy of "Flowers in the Attic" I went to the public library and checked out Forever. Thanks for the reading list, folks!

[@Yve982]

Ahh 😌 Judy Blume, the first time reading about the forbidden in my elementary school library in the early 90s. Spent all my free time there cause I didn’t dare bring such books home. This opened my love of reading and till this day I still pick reading over any other fun activities. Kids love the forbidden 🚫 💀 Some people acting like they forgot how they were growing up 🤦‍♀️

[@Fire-Queen]

LaVar Burton is an amazing human, that dares to poke fun at something so serious as bookbans! For people constantly screaming 'cancel culture', they sure are blind to the beam in their own eye... 🤔🤷‍♀️

[@animefigurejunkie]

My school in Mississippi made us tear out all the “Chapter 2s” of our biology books in 10th grade. They were on evolution. I kept my pages and read them. I found it so fascinating that I later got a degree in anthropology at University of Florida. I went from Christian to atheist. Trevor has a point. If you ban something, intelligent kids are going to ask “why?” and then read it themselves. I’m thankful my school made me smarter by making me do that. This is honestly heartbreaking. On top of books being banned on gender and race, hearing that books on depression are being banned, hits home for me hard. Mental health is the most stigmatized issue we face. I have severe mental health disorders. This has to stop across the board. We are regressing culturally, emotionally, and intellectually, as a society, in this country. But, Trevor, it’s more than a political issue to pump up the right’s base and win favor. They are terrified of the underground movement of progressive ideas in this country. If children learn them, they are finished as a party. These dinosaurs in office need to go join their ancestors.

[@richardgillette5759]

I didn’t know they had schools in Mississippi

[@bonpaoi4736]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKcqqyXj5doj6s

[@Brah_Lizard]

Can relate that's why left and never came back, even took out the parents out of that state......I can attest 99.99% of people there are soooooooooooooo dumb

[@DeeAyeOh85]

@@leej1759 lol. How is this even a question? You know why she was turned into an atheist.

[@katstorm13]

@@leej1759 I was having a discussion with someone in a comment section, who said people would basically consider him an atheist because he believes in evolution. Even though he believes jesus is the only way and there weren't societies before his supposed birth that were truly moral. I said Do you realize you just called the vast majority of Jewish people, more than half of Catholics, and the pope atheists? He said yeah a lot of christians are atheists. 🤦‍♀️

[@thedapperdolphin1590]

Republicans: “No wasteful spending!” Also Republicans: “Here’s tens of thousands of dollars for ratting out the school librarian for having a copy of a children’s book.”

[@owenmersk4626]

Both right wing parties vote yes on $8 trillion over ten years for the military, and half of city budgets for police. We need ranked choice voting so we have more options

[@brianknight3750]

The atf just asked ex girlfriends for valentines day to turn in thier ex for anything that might interest them. Big brother is waiting.

[@awwhellnaw8214]

Not everything is republican this or democrat that. Grow up. Politics have exposed this country enough. Keep them out of schools. Politics not books lol.

[@X2LR8]

Democrats keep banning books and supporting deplatforming and censorship. What gives?

[@vidmasterK1]

@@X2LR8 what books did they ban, those democrats?

[@amirmoezz]

Banning autobiography is the literal meaning of insanity. It's like to say you don't have the right to talk about police brutality if you're a victim.

[@Theomite]

Yeah, see, you get it. You understand.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

I always go to this: Imagine suggesting to them that we shouldn't allow battered women to speak. Then again, they're more likely to think we shouldn't, that battered women should endure and women should have little to no rights (right to get married to a man, right to produce his big-headed offspring, etc.), so nevermind.

[@sataramc4855]

I love how correcting racial disparities is called REVERSE RACISM!! WHAT A JOKE!! SAD EXCUSE FOR HUMANITY! That's why here in TX, my kids are homeschooled!!

[@nathanv1500]

"Read Banned Books!" I love it. Lavar Burton is a national treasure.

[@Fallen7Pie]

The irony of Fahrenheit 451 being challenged and burned in an age with real military robot dogs, wallpaper TVs, rising facism, etc...

[@TheIqram12]

yeah that book just literally predicted society today

[@michelleelmore5533]

Isn’t it just crazy?!

[@destinedforgreatness1175]

when was it mentioned that Fahrenheit 451 being banned ever mentioned?

[@phriedokra6158]

@@destinedforgreatness1175 before your time...I'm 60...it was banned. Google it.

[@destinedforgreatness1175]

@@phriedokra6158 But then how is it relevant to this video, since in modern day it is not banned and actually quite an acclaimed book? No one is trying to get it banned today not even the clowns mentioned in the video, that’s why I’m asking.

[@angel-ke9vs]

Raising kids is about preparing them for the real world. Not keeping them away from real world issues. 🤷‍♀️ well that's how my parents raised me.

[@jschuler53]

angel58. exactly. Bruno Bellelheim. (yeah he wrote a book and child development) wrote many essays about how important it is to prepare kids for the real world. He advocated reading all the original violent fairy tales that can prepare kids for death, loss and bad actors. Then when it happens the kids can't handle it.

[@hasanalhasani]

In Iraq, where i grew up we had one form of history. Written by the leading party. We ended up with skewed view of history. I feel the same is happening in the Us. Which is sad, it is your history you need to own it, learn from it, and move forward. Not hide it because it is uncomfortable.

[@ronkirk5099]

You can get any of these books at bargain basement, used prices from Amazon and they'll even deliver them to your door in a brown paper wrapper in case you're worried about your neighbors seeing that you're an open minded, thinking individual. If the GQP was really concerned about protecting children, maybe they should consider some commonsense gun control measures that might just protect children from being murdered in school.

[@katstorm13]

Public libraries have a lot of audio and digital books to check out for free!

[@evangelineguevara6525]

This breaks my heart to think that we've come to this point in our lives. U don't want your kid to learn about these subjects keep at home on a ranch in the middle of Wyoming. So we don't have to be subjected to this bs. Let the kids learn and form their own opinion about things without the hate and persuasion.

[@jimbecarroll5780]

Well you see their minds ARE on THAT ranch in the middle of Wyoming

[@sea_triscuit7980]

When Trevor brought up the fact about Michelle Obama's book getting banned it just becomes even more ridiculous and blatant. This is why education is important people

[@MelanieNLee]

If you think that no book about a First Lady should be banned, wait till someone writes a bio about Melania Knauss Trump's past! (I'm not holding her past against her; I'm just making a point.)

[@gloriaf6971]

@@MelanieNLee A book about Melania shouldn't be banned either.

[@Khronogi]

@@MelanieNLee I wouldnt ban her book or a book from the former president himself, even if they are filled with lies. That is censorship and thus unamerican.

[@sandpiperr]

@@MelanieNLee I don't want a book about Melania banned. I think it'd be a waste of time to bother reading or buying, but if the library wants to put it on their shelves...fine!

[@SashaInTheCloud]

You know things are bad when Levar Burton is yelling READ BANNED BOOKS. Ily Levar, keep being your amazing self! I loved Reading Rainbow as a kid.

[@joannepackus5736]

I learned so much from his performance in "Roots". I remember crying over how other people could do this to other people. How it was justified! We have to learn about this because it is our past history. History repeats itself until we learn from it. I also don't want to read a book on a computer I want to feel that pages and the smell. You lose a lot of senses reading it on a computer.

[@TheWtfanime]

It hurt seeing Levar Burton get censored, even if it was just for a joke. Do what Lavar said, read banned books.

[@paulmayer6715]

And if you don't do it for him, do it for that beard and the protractor and straight edge he uses to maintain it. Seriously- that's the best looking celebrity beard of the last 20 years.

[@josetheragood3213]

Anything for Commander LeForge.

[@kingjamos2422]

@@paulmayer6715 FOR THE BEARD!!!

[@BESTpartCapture]

Like the Bible

[@joymcclendon7525]

@@Onikage55 🤭💞

[@Katelyn3666]

Thank you for doing this segment. As a lifelong reader I understand the importance of reading and getting children reading at a young age to develop a life long love of learning. Bonus points for the cameo at the end!

[@benmalsky9834]

I’m SO glad I didn’t have to experience this situation when I was in school.

[@cisco8650]

Imagine living in a State where various bounties can be collected from snitching on fellow citizens for doing something as mundane as lending out a book.

[@1IGG]

For 10 grand people will smuggle books into the library to "find" them to collect the bounty.

[@verseapocalyptica668]

It’s the thought police, yo

[@Theomite]

Don't have to. I can watch the newspapers on Texas anytime I want.

[@abocas]

1984 ....

[@hellogoodnite8447]

Like the people who snitched on Jews in the Holocaust.

[@stupid1557]

The LeVar Burton part was gold!👌

[@GILLIGFAN]

Pure gold top notch gold

[@Wolfspaule]

But do you get the point? Or are you just a braindead consumer?

[@skyspruill]

The funny thing is alot of libraries have a Banned Books display and each book has a different book cover explaining why they were banned.

[@slypear]

Nice! More of this, please.

[@mho...]

yeah same here in germany, its a "special" section in the library!, feels more like a museum tbh!

[@erinthesystem9608]

That is a brilliant idea!

[@lauraholzler1417]

Burton I love you so much for this piece! Read the banned book list yall! It's enlightening to show compassion for the experience of your fellows. We can do this. We can do the hard work of our ancestors. We can live up to the promise of this country.

[@phoenixluk]

From a librarian and educator, thank you!

[@trans-forming]

That ending was perfect. LaVar Burton is a freaking living treasure.

[@clumsiii]

that was a treasure! I miss him in any role!

[@GILLIGFAN]

It made me so grateful the world hasn’t lost Lavar yet in an era where so many treasures & icons have been lost

[@adamrassi3516]

was about to comment the same thing :)

[@sf2132]

Love, love, love that guy!😸

[@Theomite]

Not sure about the beard though.

[@snakerb]

Remember how angry those same people were when Dr. Seuss pulled it's own books? Now look at them smh.

[@3K2-k3m]

I always thought zeus was too busy chasing after women, but turns out he went and got himself a doctorate degree..

[@whyaminotoriginal]

Not the same....

[@PrototypeSpaceMonkey]

@@3K2-k3m Dr. Zeus, MD... now there's a hospital drama I'd watch.

[@RJCHOICE]

@@whyaminotoriginal True. One is a fascist Orwellian tactic to gin up political advantage through fear of knowledge, debate, and cultural divisiveness. In short they are promoting Authoritarian fascism. While the other is a private company deciding it adds value to their brand if they stopped printing books they recognized as normalizing racist tropes. In short they are practicing "Capitalism"

[@whyaminotoriginal]

@@RJCHOICE now that I agree

[@sitns23]

This makes me so upset. All these insecure parents thinking that they have control over other peoples thinking makes me feel nauseous.

[@gloriaf6971]

Me too.

[@justify798]

It's evil and is why they have a meltdown when they are not in control. The days of their demise are here. They believe they won't be subject to consequences and will accomplish reverting back to vile racist ideologies but that will not save them from what's coming.

[@jimbecarroll5780]

@@justify798 well you know their DNA shows they are the descendants of the cave era.

[@anna6431]

I hate when children are used as a political playground under the guise of "protecting" them

[@whitman911]

Masterfully done, Mr. Noah. And thank you, as well, Commander LaForge!

[@Bibliophile1969]

As a Librarian, I gotta say, there is more than one copy of each of these books available in the world. Also, why worry about books the kids might read in between the active shooter drills?

[@jc.1191]

That's a noble profession 👍 Thank you

[@GoCoyote]

Snap! Yikes.

[@TheLilly]

Oops!!! But they don't wanna hear that though 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@ChrisAlbertH47]

If the parents of these children are worried about what their "fragile" minds might consume, maybe they should move to ban the internet 🤣

[@alejandroflores7542]

Society is behaving so much like pre-ntzy Germany-soviets before a full totalitarian regimes, IF you read a bit of history you most see the pattern here, IT all starts with ending freedom of speech, banning books.

[@7rob27]

Come on Trevor. Fascism without burning books is ridiculous.

[@kenbee1957]

Is what I kept screaming at my TV

[@Wolfspaule]

Why can't all people see it?

[@Theomite]

@@Wolfspaule They can but they keep hoping at every step that something/one will derail it so they don't have to do it. Deep down inside any semi-awake person is the knowledge that doing something closes the doors of your future. Understandably, people don't want to do the right thing and get punished for it.

[@bonpaoi4736]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKcqqyXj5doj6s

[@VincentSaan]

@@Theomite the way i see it republican and democrats are both on the fascist/propaganda/totalerismic tour this day and age, thats the reason ur all so divided

[@kathryndavidson5056]

Thank you Reading Rainbow & PBS for all the educational material they provide. If more kids tuned into this type of programming we might not be in the situation we are now.

[@GILLIGFAN]

I know right? Sadly even PBS was “Too much” for some of these parents

[@thesingerintheshower]

I LOVE PBS

[@murielhatesyou8630]

Everything I know I learned from PBS except algebra

[@Khronogi]

Mr rodgers neighborhood

[@blackahjumma692]

what if they ban PBS, perish the thought, smh

[@ScottLowe]

That LeVar Burton cameo was 👨‍🍳🤌

[@jvick87]

People who do the chef’s kiss thing are 💩

[@sarahdee374]

I work in a bookstore in a state bordering Tennessee. When they banned Maus we had to order a LOT at customer request.

[@TheIvymouse]

These issues should be at the forefront of our conversation as a society.

[@Tacom4ster]

And yet most liberals rather be civil than be angry, where's the rage over this, conservatives get mad at pointless things like Mr Potato Head

[@p3u3g3poultree7]

Instead we get hours of drivel on Ukraine. Without a single mention that the US is supporting fascists in Ukraine. The Svoboda party even has a swatiska as it's logo.

[@Tacom4ster]

@@p3u3g3poultree7 I think only a small subset of Neo Nazis got those guns, most of Ukraine oppose Putin invasion. Personally I would only arm anarchists, but beggars can't be choosers

[@erniebuchinski3614]

@@Tacom4ster You've never been to Portland, Oregon, have you? There's obviously plenty of intolerance and hostility on both sides, even if many people are delusional enough to believe it's only "the other side" at fault. I'm not sure if it's pathetic, hilarious or both.

[@freyastar4399]

School libraries is where I found my love for reading.. it’s where I discovered what interested me. I’m happy no one was there snatching books out my hand because they didn’t agree with it.

[@Leonaza7]

For those of us who were paying attention, it’s not surprising at all. This was one of the goals of the extreme right to seize control of local school boards. It’s not like they were being subtle about it.

[@jeneanharris4622]

go back further, this is the same method used to keep certain classes of people dumb, basically with no access and thus no way to improve themselves... if they go this far, what next... yeah, we think iy would be better if we separate the kids, to ease tensions... it needs to stop now before it becomes the norm...

[@snakerb]

They weren't being subtle, but it seems like most people were paying so much attention to national elections, they completely ignored local elections.

[@RSAgility]

@@snakerb Yes local elections rarely see voters and terrible people run unopposed! So nothing changes as people think the president is a dictator that can just wave his magic pen and fix their problems like a wizard... 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@RSAgility]

@@snakerb Flint's water problem was due to local rightwing republicans, who somehow had the power to circumvent the democratically elected black democrat governor of the city to change the water pipes without safety guidelines, and so on, probably for profit, so when it all failed, people like Ben ShaPword, say it was "the dems fault" "they can't run cities well" While ignoring everything else that doesn't fit his narrative.

[@Jajaffu]

I AGREE WITH YOU.

[@NoSabine]

I remember tourists from the US complaining that there was a painting of the Madonna in a church where you could see that Mary had a baby boy. A few got terribly upset. They were traveling with an organized group, Europe in 6 days, something like that. I felt very sorry for the tour guide. They still had France and Italy ahead of them. I figured in Florence - after his group spotted the David - the guide would go deaf or all his clients would die of heart attack....or both in quick succession. I didn't mention that Sanssouci, to which they were heading, was built by a king who - to put it politely - fancied the company of men.

[@cathybruce8692]

THANK YOU MR. NOAH AND MR. BURTON!!!

[@tommyt1971]

If those self-righteous, overzealous parents are concerned with only the scary parts in a book, they should READ the Bible instead of cherrypicking passages from it.

[@bibianaguadalupeislasherre9880]

These people would also ban the bible altogether, if they had their way.

[@alexandermarvin9536]

Just imagine if somebody complained about the Bible, using the $10,000 bounty. Then reported it in the media. Cue people losing their minds.

[@bibianaguadalupeislasherre9880]

@@alexandermarvin9536 But Christians are going to scream that they're being "Persecuted" by people who are secular.

[@The-Plaguefellow]

Well. I mean, that's presuming the parents sre literate in the first place.

[@pierrecalderone]

Those crying over books feel they're owed something bc Trump lost. It's proof that misery loves (and wants) company. Theyre used to being hidden not exposed as bad guys and it hurts them. Well, tough.

[@rawvision6701]

Man, you keep Trump on your mind. Does he live there rent free?

[@bonpaoi4736]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKcqqyXj5doj6s

[@vidmasterK1]

@@rawvision6701 like for real, why wouldn't Trumo be on your mind?

[@rawvision6701]

@@vidmasterK1 because Biden is the current resident, and he's definitely enough to be truly concerned about. Do you agree?

[@vidmasterK1]

@@rawvision6701 nah, he's far tamer and less volatile, immature (i.e. easily triggered) and less unstable than Trump. BIDEN is too old for this amount of responsibility, and definitely not lucid all the time, but Biden is better than what we used used have. We don't see Biden out there complaining about the right winger celebrities and conservative media criticizing him or tweeting at four in the morning about stubborn Republicans stalling his goals and agendas.

[@laalaa99stl]

Dang. Never thought librarians would need voice changer technology and enrollment in the Witness Protection Program. 😔

[@ChrisAlbertH47]

Americans, smh..

[@GILLIGFAN]

@@ChrisAlbertH47 It’s not just America Hate, authoritarianism, and censorship run amuck exists in many parts of the modern world sadly even though the bulk of it is long overdue to simply die

[@ChrisAlbertH47]

@@GILLIGFAN True, it's not just America. But America loves to tout itself as an example or model for many virtues like freedom, rights, democracy, etc. More so than most nations. Such self-aggrandizing attitudes are inherent even in American culture and educations. And when it makes itself an example, it's only natural that it would be a target when it fails to live up to the very things it claims to espouse.

[@GILLIGFAN]

@@ChrisAlbertH47 It’s only gotten worse as a certain political party and their like minded cult ( Republicans ) have further proliferated politics and positions of power or outlets by which to spread their perverse warped views. The so called “patriotism, my guns, my rights, Murrica is best” crowd has funneled into a big ol bowl of crazy! There’s a reason the phrase “Right wing nuts” came about Don’t lump all Americans together The loud minority that can’t admit to being a minority doesn’t speak for us all

[@ChrisAlbertH47]

@@GILLIGFAN _"Don’t lump all Americans together"_ - I don't. But those people you mention do make up a large and significant portion of America, and they are Americans.

[@specops937]

Salute to all the people of the struggle. Blessings to everyone stay prayed up

[@mysticmermaid333]

The LeVar Burton bit is amazing! 😍

[@hiddehidde8940]

The fact that 1984 is banned in some schools is really ironic

[@PrototypeSpaceMonkey]

Even more ironic: It was banned in the USSR for being too anti-communist and in the US for being too pro-communist. Funny how people from two completely opposing ideologies can look at the same book about an evil totalitarian dictatorship and go "Hey! That's us! They're talking about us!"

[@Iskelderon]

They need all those copies to use them as a manual.

[@Dreagostini]

Small advice from a German: Burning books bad. It's even an alliteration for better memorization.

[@loki2240]

American conservatives read that as "Burning bad books."

[@erniebuchinski3614]

@@loki2240 The fact that you and millions of others don't understand that the problem is coming from both sides is a large part of the problem. The left is a least as much in favour of censorship as the right, and both sides are wrong. It's a no-brainer for anyone with a brain to see that.

[@loki2240]

@@erniebuchinski3614 - That's a fact? Or is it your unsubstantiated conclusion based upon a joke?

[@dewaynerawlings4971]

@@erniebuchinski3614 O the hypocrisy of it all!

[@MightyMezzo]

My mom tells me that the sanitized editions of Shakespeare that were available in her high school in the 1950s actually got the kids seeking out the Bard on their own… to find out what was cut.

[@bbeight3843]

Awesome job with the LaVar collaboration! That was hilarious and moving. Thanks LaVar for continuing to inspire me!

[@meg_pflueger]

Currently, in Indiana, they are considering a law where the people who order the books at the library could be thrown in jail for stocking the books that are banned. Also, if you are within 500 yards of a school or church you could be arrested for checking out the wrong type of book to a child. This is censorship and parents wanting to shift responsibility. The library where I work is within 500 yards of both churches and schools. We have electronic accounts for patrons where you can check to see what you have checked out. It is not our responsibility to monitor your child!

[@quannifer]

This is what happens when the dummies have a loud voice.

[@danielbrundidge8395]

I literally bought my little sister the Hardbound Complete Edition of Maus for Christmas. Read it if you haven't! I had no idea idiots wanted to ban it, but I'm glad I bought it for her. We both read it in Junior high and loved it (about 25 years ago). She now has a 2 year old who will someday read and be able to enjoy and learn from it!

[@kylewills6479]

Daniel it is a great series I remember reading them myself

[@danielbrundidge8395]

@@kylewills6479 I found it on the shelf in the school library looking for comics (graphic novels were a fairly new thing)

[@janayh2817]

It’s an amazing addition to my collection. Only learned about it my freshman year in college (2005). So many graphic novels including Deogratias and Persopholis altered my skewed worldview.

[@portsyde3466]

Maus has been banned for years at my local high school (don't know why). I only know because I accidentally happened upon the banned books room after hours and found boxes of banned books. Crazy.

[@bonpaoi4736]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKcqqyXj5doj6s

[@tigerlilly9038]

Mr. Reading Rainbow Forever!!! Thank you, Trevor.

[@Kwanecrt]

Sitting in South Africa and watching America literally turn into the Handmade's Tale.

[@teranikadouglas6612]

I complete agree making books forbidden will attract children to seek this knowledge out more. May we continue to teach our children real unfiltered history!

[@jivana24]

When I saw this I thought “the book thief” that’s a book and also a movie for those who are so inclined- it’s a great movie - but its also every colonial government and authoritarian governments that took over. Anyway thanks for making a joke on how books in libraries are coded 😂 😂😂😂 For a girl who spent so many weekends in libraries while my mom worked…. I felt so seen!

[@4leafclover243]

Here's a novel idea: how about banning parents from interfering in school curriculum. If they don't like it, they can home school their kids and pretend the outside world doesn't exist.

[@Khronogi]

Sadly the laws are going more towards parent interference in curriculum. "Parents should have control over what their kids learn in public schools." Which is what homeschooling or private schools was for. Public schools should be about telling truth, not sugar coating.

[@JesusLovesEVERYTHING]

Homeschooling doesn't give that freedom either, if you don't teach your kids what the government wants to brainwash the world with, they call cps

[@sumayyahadetunmbi4347]

this!!!

[@eliza9011]

@@JesusLovesEVERYTHING you can literally unschool your kids if you feel like it there all Christian homeschool programs that the duggers use of you want you need to file paperwork on pulling your kid out of brick and mortar school and that's it

[@marsthatdamnrebel]

@@JesusLovesEVERYTHING That is not even remotely true. Says a teacher and parent.

[@youraverageasian1601]

We're gradually turning into that episode of Black Mirror where the mom just censored all the bad stuff out of her kid's vision.

[@RaneBoDasch]

I went all out and just glued my child's eyelids. She doesn't see any bad stuff and I get to freely stroll around in my underwear. I call that a win-win

[@Theomite]

I'm just waiting for the episode where it's literally just documentary footage of the real world edited into a story.

[@bmuhamad]

My question is, can these people read? My second question is, what's their comprehensive understanding of these banned books? After all, they tend to be the ones having these books banned, and created this so-called concept of critical race theory. After all, some of these books have been on library shelves, before most of the parents even knew what they are, and were.

[@henrytawnn8694]

Of course they don't read these books. They just see people of color on the cover or, heaven forbid, homosexual penguins, and froth at the mouth to try and appease their one Lord and Savior, Daddy Donald.

[@tammileroux3329]

My guess is that not only do they not read, they can't read. But my question is are they Republican? I'm thinking the only people that want these books banned are Republicans.

[@MelanieNLee]

A few days ago, someone labelled Whoopi Goldberg's controversial comment about the Holocaust and race as Critical Race Theory. Wow! To that person, I suppose that CTR is anything that a Black person says that can be found objectionable.

[@henrytawnn8694]

@@MelanieNLee Exactly. That's how it's been. Every one of them upset about CRT can't even define it. "Well, it means many things to different people." No, CRT has a clear definition. They're all angry at it because they've been told to be angry about it.

[@jimbecarroll5780]

There ya go ! These book banners all of a sudden sees books that have been accessible for years as a "threat" . You know what that's about.!

[@nathanwilkowski3131]

Thank you Trevor. Thank you LeVar.

[@adamweber4098]

my high school had a "banned book week" where the library stocked up on all the banned books from around the world for us to read

[@Myrddnn]

I love that Lamar Burton did that bit! He's the best.

[@conniesedona116]

LeVar.

[@clumsiii]

ya i spelled his name wrong too - no big -- That was so awesome - " butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high, take a look! it's in a book! the reading rainbow" LeVar is so rad --

[@marioozzie]

That's LeVar, Gym!

[@jamilajones8328]

As soon as I found out there was such a thing as "banned book list", in elementary school, I easily hooked. Beats the nytimes best bk list every time! 😉

[@guybrush1701]

Nothing makes me happier than seeing Geordi LaForge defending literature.

[@Geniusignotus]

I'm just surprised that he could even read with his eyes

[@guybrush1701]

@@Geniusignotus lol! You know what would be dope is if he wore those contacts from the movies in his day-to-day life

[@Lindadz89]

Lavar Burton cameo is hilarious 😂 😃 😄

[@armandoucles5346]

The ignorance and stupidity of these parents and educational boards in certain states is an example of how sad the state of our educational system is in.

[@RimSo]

Reading Rainbow was my absolute favorite show growing up! That and Carmen Sandiego 😊

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

I really liked The Puzzle Place and Wishbone too. But Sesame Street and Arthur are the GOATs to me. 😁

[@DownwithEA1]

When librarians are on the front line it's pretty clear which side I want to be on. Having trouble finding a banned book? Check your local college library. Read it in the library if you can't check it out.

[@ChrisAlbertH47]

If you thought America's inability to have reasonable public discourses were bad enough, just wait till they decide what subjects to erase from discussions entirely. Oh wait.. 😆 If parents are concerned about what their children can consume, maybe they should ban the internet 😂

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

That's what they want to do. Think they wouldn't if they could? The internet is where people are radicalized to hate, yes, but it's also a place where people can quite easily see that the things their parents told them about other people isn't true. They can't have that.

[@lorenrenee1]

You got Lavar Burton! Reading rainbow, Jordy LaForge, and Roots! I loved the segment:)

[@leronnspaternalpresencepod5247]

Thanks Trevor! Always informative

[@kylewills6479]

Sometimes this country really makes me sad!!! I have read all of these books and see the importance of having them on the shelves.

[@thoughtlesskills]

Conservatives: vaccine mandates =1984. Also conservatives: Burning books.

[@whalesong8040]

Yes, you said it! The hypocrisy is absolutely chilling!

[@stevechance150]

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” G.O.

[@marleemcabee2666]

Oh my gosh I’m laughing and crying at the Levar Burton cameo

[@lcrain7840]

Thank you LV!!!!!

[@Darkmountaindweller]

I remember when they tried to ban Harry Potter books, it just made us little kids at the time want to read all of them , we would be all be in a huddle reading it in secret place only us kids knew about, and we would hide the books all over school,different copies.Imagine now they are just making those books popular, Kids and teen would find a way to read them evenif they weren't interested in them anyway.

[@katstorm13]

Those books are what got my cousins kids to really get serious about wanting to read.

[@erinerin561]

I love Levar Burton! So many fond memories of him from Reading Rainbow and Star Trek.

[@dianeduncanson9863]

We are living in a crazy, crazy world. Fear mongering over books.

[@DrK-in-Denmark]

A modern society prioritises banning books versus banning guns sounds eerily familiar.

[@fresiaguerra3043]

The banning of these books is so depressing 😣 I'm losing hope for humanity

[@juggaloclownpreacher]

I remember a law that was made putting bounties on the scalps of Native Americans. So every time I hear that there is a bounty system for something I think about my ancestors and how they were treated and I think the idea of bouncy systems need to be abolished.

[@tyiingram9878]

💯

[@gremlininblue2601]

Exactly! And then they tried to erase us entirely and almost succeeded!

[@Tupelo927]

Seeing LaVar Burton brought about an intense wave of nostalgia & admiration. A fine example of an American that loves his country & spends his time enriching the lives of others. He champions facts, history, & tradition while also encouraging imagination, progress, & innovation. He fosters curiosity & understanding in millions of children. It is past time we reclaim the label "Patriot" & bestow it on admirable folks like Mr. Burton!

[@anaiyasmommy1]

Let’s bring back Reading Rainbow and highlight all of these ‘banned’ books!!! Love that you added LeVar Burton to this segment.

[@liviusss]

I feel really sad watching this (and I'm not even American). LeVar Burton made me tear up, Star Trek was my favourite series growing up...

[@bubblestcat]

Mr. Reading Rainbow himself!!! love it!

[@NellieKAdaba]

👍🏿

[@lusciouslipslibra]

This is so dangerous. This is the beginning of the end y'all, stay alert! I'm so glad I went to a school where the banned book list WAS our reading list. We read every single one of them besides the Bible and Harry Potter

[@katstorm13]

If they burned books just based on reading the "controversial" passages alone, the bible would be in that fire lol.

[@lusciouslipslibra]

@@katstorm13 lol as it should be

[@Ibraheeme]

I remember having to read Catcher in the Rye in school, it was an American school in a foreign country. When we were told that the book was banned in some schools, we thought it would be cool. Turns out the main character was just an edgelord before the internet was a thing. Was kind of disappointed.

[@Theomite]

Most banned media is that way. It turns out they're worried about the ideas you might get rather than the excitement, which isn't really there for the most part.

[@VSES-99293]

Right

[@susanhuffstutler9576]

@@VSES-99293W I am 77, class of '62 raised in Northern CA. In senior year we read Mockingbird only two years published and Catcher in the Rye. Nothing was said, except pop quiz moments and a final paper on each book. I LOVED Catcher 'cause it had swears and a teenage narrator who felt like most of us did. Reread it lately, The writing is very excellent; however Holden was just a normal moody teen.

[@rgwak]

It's odd that the people who want to ban these books are also the same people who don't even read books in the first place. 🤔

[@justthefactslibrarian3935]

LeVar Burton should be offered an honorary library degree. Thank you, Mr. Burton!

[@ultimatestar705]

He’s absolutely right. Making something forbidden, makes them want it more. All banned books have high ratings on GoodReads etc