Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

When a young Roy Gutterman heard rumors that his town was going to ban “A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich,” a story about a Black child in Harlem, his first instinct was to read it. Now a journalism professor and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech, Gutterman teaches about and fights for free speech.

“Leadership has always wanted to express opposition to things they find offensive, but it is amplified today,” Gutterman said. “It has become a major political campaigning point.”

On Wednesday, Syracuse University Libraries hosted “Banned and Contested: Perspectives on Challenging Book Censorship.” The event held a panel of local professors and librarians in honor of Banned Books Week, which runs nationally from Sept. 22-28. Alongside Gutterman were panelists Allison Comes, Leah T. Dudak and Meg Van Patten.

Panelists shared their personal experiences with book banning. Dudak, a librarian and iSchool Ph.D candidate, studies the trauma that librarians face from rises in book banning and the attacks they face in the workplace.

Many bans disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories. They can have heavy impacts on these marginalized communities, Dudak said.

“If you’re challenging books about slavery or Black history, you are not only challenging the books, you’re challenging the history and the personhood,” Dudak said. “As a library worker, your personhood is challenged every day.”

Following the panel, attendees were encouraged to participate in a read-aloud, sharing passages from banned books. Selections ranged from dystopian novels like George Orwell’s “1984” to Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel series “Captain Underpants.”

Solange Jain | Asst. Photo Editor

Attendees of Syracuse University’s Banned Books panel read different portions of banned books aloud. Panel members also speak about the importance of combating censorship.

There has been a dramatic increase in book bans and challenges in the last few years. The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the American Librarian Association.

As the numbers of local and statewide book bans continue to climb, the event focused on the impacts and dangers of these patterns. Gutterman said this is leading to increased partisanship on the issue.

During her panel, Comes, coordinator of the O²CM School Library System, shared that while many challenges and bans start with parents, she has also seen them come from the school systems. Instead of only having to contend with outside challengers, there are conflicting ideas between educators.

“Sometimes the call comes from inside the house,” Comes said. “There are a lot of teachers who have snatched books out of student’s hands.”

As librarians, sometimes they have to shelve books they don’t agree with. While this can be difficult to do, it is extremely important, Dudak said, because voicing different perspectives makes libraries a key part of democracy.

LaRoyce Covington, attendee and SU Ph.D. student, is from Florida, which he said is a state that has been at the forefront of book banning. They attended the event because its conversations felt particularly pressing to them.

“I think it starts with books,” Covington said. “You get into censorship of books, and then suddenly we’re starting to censor media. It sounds like a slippery slope, but it’s happened in history.”

All four panelists stressed the importance of participating in civic engagement as a way to combat censorship. They encouraged attendees to vote in all elections, especially local ones, and to stay vigilant in the fight against bans.

“(Book-banning) groups are mobilized,” Dudak said. “We need to mobilize, too, even when we’re tired. Even when it’s hard.”

Published on September 25, 2024 at 11:40 pm

ehrosen@syr.edu