Book bans in America are rising. Here's a look at what's lost.

Cries to remove books from classrooms and library shelves is nothing new. Some of what has shifted are the storylines, characters and authors being silenced. Read more: wapo.st/3exAMZC. Subscribe to The Washington Post on KZbin: wapo.st/2QOdcqK
Follow us:
Twitter: / washingtonpost
Instagram: / washingtonpost
Facebook: / washingtonpost

[@patriciahatch316]

The Nazis burnt books in Berlin, May 1933, and the world did nothing. We must not make the same mistake again.

[@masterman1266]

sadly many are in denial. We are so fucked.

[@SPACEMONKEY288]

Conservatives banned the book that teaches that

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

Fr

[@jeudiballsl5518]

I like how banning books with pornographic imagry and promotes sexual degeneracy away from school kids is equiliaent of taking jewish authors and burning books in Central germany.

[@csyarid]

Are you actually that stupid as to believe this compares to the Nazi book burning?

[@alexbramley6346]

book ban, one step away from book burning. only the scared and fearful burn to remove. ever tried to burn an idea? good luck.

[@suzanne9150]

Pulitzer Prize winning books being banned PROVES the stupidity of the people wanting them banned.

[@csyarid]

The fact that there are people who actually believe there is a book ban proves the stupidity of those who believe so.

[@fredgarvinMP]

@@csyarid 🎯

[@rickwyant]

Books that groom young people should be unavailable to them.

[@lazo3251]

@@rickwyant They don't groom young people, they teach americans how to be better than their previous generations who were generally racist and homophobic. But conservatives hate it because it paints them as the villain, which I guess is too offensive for them. The irony is that when other people are offended by the conservatives' behavior, they act like the liberals are crazy, but when it's the other way around, then people have to take them seriously. The main reason for the ban is that most of the US is conservative, mainly because of the southern states, which have remained very traditional over the years, so the liberal minority will never really win. In Canada, it is the opposite, we have a liberal majority and a conservative minority. Sometimes, the conservative party gets elected but the country itself remains a lot more liberal than the US, because our history with Christianity was extremely negative.

[@bobbobbington3615]

Nothing was banned, you sillicnt.

[@jayh1391]

these books been around for decades in our school. without educating racism and diversity of our history, our children will have social issues. KKK was promoting the same policy but failed. Now DeSantis and Abbott brought it back.

[@Tylerd838]

Brainwashed individual here^

[@jamesestelle7260]

Stop with that. The books that are being banned are recent. And sorry a 6 year old doesn't need a lesson saying only white people are racist, and 10 year olds don't need a book on 2 young teens performing felatio on each other.

[@g7fford354]

Some books are banned because there is fear among showing criticism of things to children at young ages that will cause future discrimination and stigmatization against certain groups. One example is police officers because when children hear something they become obsessed with it due to their developing brains. If you teach that a bunch of police officers have done bad things, they could grow up to hating police and always feeling negative emotions about them.

[@cabernet6052]

@@g7fford354 perhaps the problem is police tend to abuse their power if they didn’t do such a thing it wouldn’t warrant such criticism

[@claudelebel49]

When you don't like what you see in the mirror, break the mirror.

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

The Streisand effect, efforts to censor books will ultimately backfire as awareness will multiply the need to preserve books that run contrary to the efforts of censors

[@Chris_winthers]

Funny how you never see any of these people banning the bible, given how sexually charged that book is

[@zombies4evadude24]

Genocide and rape. So much rape, especially in the Old Testament…

[@Justme1635438]

They will rewrite the Bible at some point.

[@_________.]

In what public schools is the Bible accessible to children????

[@slofool]

@@_________. Quite a few. just ask the schools librarian and do to foia they have to tell you.

[@_________.]

@@slofool i want you to show me one public school where the bible is on the shelves. Show me.

[@duncanhewitt6557]

I found reading helps me see life from many points of view other than my own

[@jyronav3159]

So these book bands don't represent 80 % of all parents..

[@psixens7580]

Yet apparently enough of them that they’ve been instituted. Edit: not saying it’s a good thing, just that it’s still a problem.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

I love book bands, especially hip hop ones

[@I_Am_NiiTA]

i think this is ridiculous. im 19 years old and Ive seen worse on the internet 🤷🏾‍♀

[@MaryHardymsmary_h]

I will be reading these and so will my grands. Oh the GOP doesn’t realize books are online.

[@jimmy11112]

So you don't think they will try to ban the book on their online Library?

[@nickbaugher81]

As a grandparent let ur grandkids read lawn boy I dare u I'm sure u won't be seeing g them again

[@m.mitchell1825]

Obviously, these banners do not factor in the Internet--as if kids do not get info there much worse than some of these books. Ignorance!

[@fredgarvinMP]

So you're saying the books are not being banned.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

Oh you are so edgy….

[@tomdewittefoto6701]

How will they burn e-books?

[@skylineXpert]

The answer to that is the server hosting them.

[@tomdewittefoto6701]

@@skylineXpert I guess that is a good option.

[@sagitswag1785]

​@@skylineXpertgood luck trying to burn a privately owned server through local school district voting

[@parkerholden7140]

Diversity has been what has made America great. Why are we trying to destroy it?

[@izamils]

THANK YOU!!!

[@JBTriple8]

yep I concur

[@fairylegend1648]

Leave politics out of children's novels.

[@S0me0ne353]

41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"

[@averysahara8852]

@@S0me0ne353yes it is. It’s about protecting them from dangerous ideologies and the sexual liberation movement.

[@S0me0ne353]

@@averysahara8852 look at my comment again. Which explains why your claim is bogus.

[@averysahara8852]

@@S0me0ne353 those are just some silly data points to obscure the reality. Take it case by case. Lawn Boy is written from the perspective of the author looking out a window projecting a gay romance including sex scenes onto an underage boy mowing lawns. And that is the most high profile book that people are defending. You are sick.

[@dreadfulspiller8766]

No book should be banned .but books in school should be age appropriate. Look up videos of parents at school board meeting reading clips from very explicit books that should not be given to kids under 16. If those explicit books are taken out of schools it does not mean it is banned.

[@JBTriple8]

Thank you I work at library i hate seeing books come under siege for promoting Diverse and new Ideas

[@jamesestelle7260]

So you think it's ok for 10 year olds to read about young teens performing felatio on each other? Or how only white people are racist?

[@trakdropmanager8801]

"new ideas" are probably for the internet. not teaching children. the development of a mind and education is a long and complex process, not something that should get substituted wholly by fads and diverse opinions

[@devonmarr9872]

Like Mein Kampf and the Atheist cookbook?

[@JBTriple8]

@@devonmarr9872 Apples and Oranges comparison

[@devonmarr9872]

@JBTriple8 So you support the banning of some books then? I do not feel comfortable with either of these books or even the Bible for that matter being at elementary or middle schools. What about 50 shades of Grey? Would you be mad if taxpayers for a town removed that book from their school's library.

[@mellow-jello]

In a country that touts freedom of expression, has book bannings? You kidding? Publish ebooks, so if bans occur, they can find refuge in corners of the Interwebs.

[@Apple2-ux8uo]

If you aren’t from the us, aren’t banning books. They are correcting the age restriction on books that were misclassified for readers that are too young. If the student is of appropriate age they can check out any of these books in public libraries and even school and college libraries. Banning isn’t the correct term, as the books are allowed for adult or old enough readers. Heck even explicit pornography is legal in the us, not banned but restricted to people over 18.

[@lisalisa2375]

​​@@Apple2-ux8uohank you! I'm so fed up with the "book banning" rhetoric. Nobody is stopping you from buying and reading whatever you want. They're just removing them from schools.

[@S0me0ne353]

@@Apple2-ux8uo 60% of banned books were "young adults and adult" books.... 11% if you want the adult only banned books

[@oddfox6776]

​@@Apple2-ux8uothe problem is that this controls what children's are exposed to. Profusely teaching them what parents/gov want them to learn, that's not how you should teach kids, especially considering we live in a country of "freedom" I'm okay with corn and snuff stuff being banned, through being described and or shown, but banning books based on a person's skin color and what gender they like, is unnecessarily against the freedom of children. This shows that the government is trying very extensively to control what children consume.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

Name me one book that has been banned. Just one.

[@hankvandenakker4271]

HAVE THEY REMOVED THE "BIBLE" ALSO? IF NOT- WHY NOT!? IF NOT- THEN LET'S HAVE "STORY TIME" AND READ IT TO THE CHILDREN. I IMAGINE THEY'D CREATE QUITE A DELIMINA.

[@_________.]

? What public schools offer the Bible in their library?

[@eiavops4576]

I read it as a child, nothing wrong with it

[@serpentmaster1323]

4:26 holy wow her hair! I’ve only seen paintings of people with hair like that. Freaking goodness-looking highschooler wow.

[@markheit5870]

That can't be real

[@F32Aidan]

She speaks and looks like an experienced attorney🤣

[@r3altalangodfrey39]

i can't believe that they are banning books with child P0rn in them...OMG!

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

I have read a lot of smut and I will tell you that none of those even come close to the fanfics 10 year olds read on Wattpad

[@Dojafish]

There isn't child porn omg ,yall are delusional .

[@margo5919]

I don’t know if I agree with anti-racist baby but it’s good to have choice. The book banners have never been associated with the good guys have they?!

[@fredgarvinMP]

How do you feel about the government "helping to fight misinformation" by telling Twitter and Facebook to remove user content?

[@lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

I started making my own books as a way to assure that books I enjoy reading do not get banned by the Far Right.

[@fredgarvinMP]

🤦‍♀

[@increditoaster]

The irony of the left being against book banning

[@Mageroeth]

Man this video did a real good job on how to avoid every area of real impact like what books are banned and why and whose doing it.

[@JustAnAverageWoman69]

My book was banned as well, for extreme content. Seems to be a growing trend! It amazes me that people get their feathers so ruffled over a work of fiction.

[@jjones9822]

Your book is probably left wing propaganda or contains overtly sexual material. One sided political views that divide students based on race are hurtful to young minds. They plant seeds of hatred and anger. Democrats are trying to slip this hurtful material into school libraries and curriculums wherever they can and they are getting denied by people who are on to their ruse. I’ve heard some of the material read by parents at school board meetings and it is shocking and revolting just how sexually explicit some of it is. Of course this segment is just more propaganda. They show the black mother walking with her child in the library and try to play it up as if these people are being marginalized and books that represent them are under attack. That’s a lie. It’s shameless propaganda to elicit an emotional response to make conservatives look evil when really it is the democrats trying to inject their politics into everything children read. Almost communist the way democrats are working. In fact, full blown communist.

[@eiavops4576]

Children shouldnt be exposed to inapropiate content.

[@JustAnAverageWoman69]

@@eiavops4576 Children aren't being exposed to my work.

[@eiavops4576]

@@JustAnAverageWoman69 Good, thats how it should be

[@Apple2-ux8uo]

P-hub is also full of works of fiction. Probably are far far more restricted works of fiction than non fiction.

[@goldenlordofnightmares]

Thank gawd, they did not ban the Anarchist Cookbook.

[@federicolautarohohmann9035]

"If the peoples are not enlightened, if their rights are not vulgarized; if each human being does not know what ze is worth, what ze can, what ze want and what ze should, new ilusions will suceed the old ones; and after navigating between thousands of incertities, it perhaps be our luck to change tyrant without destroying tirany" -Mariano Moreno.

[@IntelliKelly]

PORNOGRAPHIC, not age appropriate. I notice you didn't actually read out loud from Lawn Boy. You didn't play the mother reading the book out loud.

[@Dojafish]

There isn't anything pornographic here .

[@S0me0ne353]

41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"

[@TriPham-j3b]

How many of us are really women ? Or any women survived last gender genocide?

[@startuphub4097]

Your over reacting and over exaggerating what we have here. Think about all the ways we restrict children access to things we believe they do not have the maturity to handle: R, X movies, driving, access to drugs and weed, voting, bank accounts, ability to sign legal documents. Are we banning when we put needed restrictions around their immature, undeveloped minds to process troubling, adult themes? No, clearly not.

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

As a 14 year old who has read all kinds of smut, I have seen 10 year olds reading stuff that doesn’t compare to the stuff in these books, and most of them are banned because people are racist and homophobic

[@r.morris5589]

Are they truely banned like the two Dr. Seuss books you can no longer buy even used on ebay or are they just not in certain libraries but still published and can be bought at stores or online?

[@aarone9000]

Does that matter? No one should be controlling what my kids want to learn; that should be a parents decision; and no one else!

[@gardensofthegods]

Yeah I thought that was crazy about those two Dr Seuss books

[@amberlisa7365]

@@gardensofthegodswhich books?

[@brialapoint2608]

People banning books are putting a spin on it. They're using semantics. Oh you can get those books online. Yes but who cares about restricting knowledge for children

[@devonmarr9872]

Local taxpayers should have a say in what schools have. Gender Queer, The Bible, Anti-racist baby, Atheist cookbook, 50 shades of Grey, White Fragility, Mein Kampf, etc are all books that should be locally reviewed and either banned from schools or allowed based on what the local taxpayers want.

[@IntelliKelly]

Just because certain books are not appropriate for school libraries doesn't mean they are "banned".

[@S0me0ne353]

41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"

[@lisalisa2375]

Certain books have always been disallowed at schools. You can still buy whatever books you want, to read at home. That's the way it's always been, up until 5 minutes ago. Y'all are so completely disingenuous and manipulative. 🙄

[@kittyhunter3595]

Is There a list of all the books bans I need to read them I am currently rereading Anne franks diary which I know is on one of the banned list

[@gardensofthegods]

The Diary of Anne Frank ... really ?

[@kittyhunter3595]

@@gardensofthegods yea which is just ridiculous in my opinion

[@gardensofthegods]

@@kittyhunter3595 yeah that certainly is ridiculous

[@IntelliKelly]

A 4th grader does not need to learn about anal sex.

[@S0me0ne353]

41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"

[@Sara-mf3px]

Age appropriate and banning are two different things 🙄

[@user-of8zk1oo2f]

We lost our freedom

[@jaws392]

Lol what books are being banned legally. Nope your just a fool falling for propaganda

[@S0me0ne353]

41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"@@jaws392

[@yankee2yankee216]

The book that SHOULD be banned, first and foremost, is the Bible. THAT book is the source of more division and strife than any other book ever published! Unlike most books which contribute positively to society, the Bible is a source of trouble. IT should be banned, first and foremost, before any other books.

[@yankee2yankee216]

Which is not to say I think ANY books should be banned (I don’t), but if ANY books are to be banned, the Bible would be the best place to start!

[@radmi2746]

Books for Groomers

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

Someone is uneducated

[@ish_]

Why does this have almost no views is KZbin glitched or something?

[@JoeVideoed]

I viewed it.

[@fredgarvinMP]

It's garbage propaganda.

[@dianaharris7506]

@@fredgarvinMPIt’s not propaganda if it's telling the truth

[@fredgarvinMP]

@@dianaharris7506 No ma'am. This is to distract from the Murthy v. Missouri censorship.

[@TheVoiceOfChaos]

How are books making your kids gay when they aint even reading it lol

[@IntelliKelly]

Your jaunty music belies the seriousness of this topic.

[@JustinSwell]

Next you're going to tell me that because they don't have playboy in the library, it's "banning books". It's obviously a good thing to consider what our kids are learning. But just because Americans disagree about that content, doesn't mean you get to demonize them.

[@pallasathena1555]

There are some things we don’t want to know! Important things!

[@dejus_e]

Anti racist Baby? That sounds like a Family Guy cutaway gag.

[@rando-w5h]

Reaching realllyy hard

[@dragonfoxsolid1308]

Didn't these people ban religious texts in schools.

[@raxacoricofallaptoriusbloo4858]

Lol no, most people banning these books are hardcore Christians

[@dragonfoxsolid1308]

@@raxacoricofallaptoriusbloo4858 most these books are widely available. Getting a Bible at school is harder than getting these books

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

@@dragonfoxsolid1308 no. Actually at any school you can Check out, read and talk about a Bible but not these books

[@dragonfoxsolid1308]

@@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh This book is easily found. They are taking the bible out of schools.

[@TriPham-j3b]

They can goes any where but not public support institution then ok

[@muffinman3953]

anyone watching this video fro school? 🤚

[@skylineXpert]

People who want certain books will know how to get them. You got amazon. But who in the world uses a library? But honestly this? Its madness.

[@JBTriple8]

im not sure about others but in the Library where i work we have events for Everyone also patrons can check out movies and tv shows some don't likely have streaming platforms

[@av2827]

To compare Harper Lee’s works to the books shown here that were banned from some school libraries is just 😅🤦🏼‍♀️

[@Dojafish]

Libraries are important because it gives access from all kinds of people to books . Trying to get a book on Amazon cost money and not everyone ,especially children have that.

[@maryklein7131]

Can Ted Cruz actually read??

[@Moonsidean]

Fahrenheit 451

[@Ivan.A.Churlyuski]

Google, Facebook, Microsoft have banned much of my ideas and postings. Nobody sticks up for my banned ideas.

[@cezar211091]

This is shameful

[@glennichols3878]

The gas lighting in this video is epic!

[@m0ckingb1rd_flxsh]

What gas lighting?

[@terenze4869]

Very gooog video

[@vilewisher8786]

I have an idea, let's make a big fire and have a rally! And we'll take all the books and toss them into the fire and have a book burning! Oh...wait a sec...

[@TriPham-j3b]

Only 1500 i thinks few million or more even text book too because how many children or teachee know what or how the sun shine light

[@rpeck2832]

I agree book banning is wrong but cmon, Ibram X Kendi is a racist and won't debate anyone with a different view point.

[@DylanFreeland-gu1ws]

Some books are just junk and garbage for people.

[@ThePinkDragon]

loved the Color Purple though it made me uncom

[@ThePinkDragon]

Comfortable

[@stupidhead6560]

1:07 - 1:21 2:45 - 2:55

[@dmaze8457]

Are mom or dad or any other adult family member going to face jail time if he/she brings home a banned book for their 10 year old to read? Now that the religious right and Republican legislatures have gotten their way, we’re already seeing the pushback. May civility return to this country in due time!

[@r.morris5589]

The Democrats and woke have gotten their way on banned books and movies and what you can say or not say and may be fired for what you say, even if you are not at work.

[@S0me0ne353]

@@r.morris5589 41% of banned books were with lgbt protagonists or main cast characters. 40% were on the topic of race/racism and with colored protagonists. 21% of banned books had any kind of sexual tones (this includes non-explicit scenes and things like "a graphic kissing scene") so no.... it's not about "protecting kids"

[@bananabread888]

It’s Shakespeare but looks different 😅mkay

[@chwondearth4531]

Are cell phone next ?

[@josepheridu3322]

Should Mein Kampf be banned?

[@TaxReligionNow]

Lawmakers banning books of any kind from a library are in violation of the 1st amendment which protects the right of free speech and of press. This historically includes, and was addressed by the founders to cover the right to receive information and ideas.

[@beckettman42]

"Johnny the Walrus" must be allowed. WP has Taylor Lorenz who uses victimhood to Censor those who don't share her opinions.

[@williamwoolcock]

I think they re going after the wrong people! Who sold these books to the district? They probably came through a procurement process where book sales companies send an allotment to schools, sight unseen. Perhaps to get rid of unprofitable books. No one reviewed the books coming in as the procurement contracts just continue from year to year. In a regular public library the librarian may order books according to popularity, necessity of content, and they can avoid unnecessary books.

[@mohamedouhibi5389]

it's rigged in favor of lgtv books

[@janwoodworth1]

Banning books is illegal per: Supreme Court recognized the First Amendment rights of students in Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) and ruled that school boards may not remove books because they dislike the ideas.

[@amberlisa7365]

Well it’s being done.

[@jazzlewis1405]

You could try banning the black books from school. But you sure can't banned them from learning history from the internet.. Kids love the internet..😏😏😏.. Teachers need to try teaching lessons that way..

[@williamalford4248]

I'd like to organuze a Bible Burning ceremony at one of the book banning shindig's.

[@user-houdini.com123]

😂🎉

[@1916mookies]

Parents Choice Gold Award winning book COOLIES is also banned @unbanCoolies