The most timeless way to grasp the intricacies of the past is through literature. Books preserve firsthand accounts depicting the transformation of mankind, allowing us to grasp the experiences and misjudgments of those who came before us. 

Despite the social awareness that books provide, contemporary laws reveal a trend of increasing censorship. In the 2023-24 school year, there were 10,046 reported instances of book bans in the United States, with 44% of banned books featuring narratives from people of color and 39% covering LGBTQIA+ themes, according to the free expression group PEN America. 

Several states, such as Florida, Texas, Alabama and Louisiana, have restricted certain materials with the justification of curriculum concerns or parental rights. 

For instance, in March 2022, Florida introduced the “Don’t Say Gay” law — a nickname for the Parental Rights in Education legislation — which prohibited classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity. Lawmakers are thus arguing that restrictions on literature protect children from inappropriate content. 

Books covering necessary historical realities are now appearing on “banned” lists, often as a result of local school board decisions and state legislatures. This censorship remains hypocritical: The same school boards that highlight the importance of critical thinking are limiting access to materials that elicit such skills. 

Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” which covers the psychological trauma of slavery, and Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak,” which follows a young girl battling a graphic sexual assault, have emerged on banned book lists. Such books are essential to understanding realistic critical topics. How can we be involved and educated individuals without exposure to uncomfortable truths within the safety net of fiction?

The politicization of education is responsible for increasing literature censorship. School districts, despite debates that education should remain politically neutral, are now influenced by the expansion of conservative lawmakers. 

Critical race theory, which is an academic framework teaching how race has shaped U.S. laws, social structures and institutions, is banned from being taught at schools in 18 states, including Virginia, Texas and Alabama, due to pushback from Republican lawmakers. Debate over its implementation in curricula emerged from Americans believing that calling out racist systemic foundations equated to assuming all white individuals are racist. 

This ban influences how we, as students, are taught history. Those in control of educational narratives are now shaping history the way they want, without acknowledging the racial prejudices and role of minority populations in American development. 

Adolescents benefit from having exposure to said “banned” books, as these books foster critical thinking and moral reasoning. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee — a classic read in high school English courses — examines racial prejudice and themes of injustice with the purpose of discussing the complexities of human nature. A lack of exposure can diminish readiness to address real-world issues and analytical thinking. 

In 2020, following several parent complaints about racist epithets in the book, the Burbank Unified School District in Los Angeles County removed Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” and other required readings from their book lists. 

These bans, rather than abiding by their purpose of removing books unsuitable for widespread audiences, instead act as a way to avoid the harsh realities of history. Without having uncomfortable conversations that criticize the world we live in, we can’t comprehend the necessity of systemic empathy. This act of silencing books is instead silencing people. 

California is becoming a model for educational prosperity due to its history of strong responses to protect book freedom. On Jan. 1, a California law took effect that prohibited public libraries from banning books based on race, gender identity and sexual orientation, among other factors. 

Growing up in conservative-leaning states, which have consistently passed legislation against book freedom, can lead to a big disparity in exposure to critical social issues. This now-existent two-tiered education system, with the difference in education in states such as Texas versus California, can cause irreparable damage and build a cycle of unawareness of contemporary problems. 

In my personal favorite “banned” book, Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” books represent the collective knowledge of humanity and are burned to silence independent thinking and criticism. Through this narrative, suppression is directly tied to the totalitarian aspect of a fascist government. The irony is humorous, yet telling of the course of action we must take against further censorship and extremism. 

As USC students, we are placed in a position of privilege to formulate a strong intellectual impact. We study on a campus that values educational openness, filled with students from different trajectories of the world. This privilege thus elicits a responsibility: We can organize campus discussions that spotlight censored literature or advocate for a diverse curriculum to set an example for students on other campuses. 

Our generation holds immense power from the digitalization mechanisms required to amplify marginalized voices. Read these banned pieces of literature and share your perspectives online. Allow yourself to reflect on what message these books convey that evokes such mixed responses. 

The foundations of our modern world cannot be mounted on an illusion of perfection; rather, the complexities are what make our world susceptible to eventual improvement.