Supporters of Book Bans in America’s Schools
Last night, multiple news organizations reported Scholastic would reverse its decision from just days ago to allow elementary schools to exclude certain books with racial or LGBTQ-related content from their book fairs
Contact:
John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
Washington, DC—Children’s Defense Fund is pleased to see Scholastic has reversed a decision that would make it easier for school boards to censor literature it offers at its popular book fairs.
Last week, multiple news organizations, including CNN, reported the company, Scholastic, had created a book set called Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice consisting of 64 titles largely dealing with race, gender, and LGBTQ+ -related literature. The book set was created so that elementary schools in states that have literary censorship laws could reject certain materials they deem offensive from being sold in Scholastic book fairs. At least six of the books Scholastic would allow elementary schools to ban are pieces of literature recommended on the 2023 CDF Freedom Schools® book list.
On Tuesday, authors and illustrators affiliated with Scholastic revealed the company had sent them a letter stating it would soon discontinue its offering of the Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice book set. CDF Freedom Schools National Director Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons released the following statement in response to Scholastic’s latest decision:
“CDF Freedom Schools ordered 3,775 books from Scholastic last year alone. Multiply that by our 30-year history. This means we’ve contributed to their success as a book publisher/distributor. When I was a child, I couldn’t wait to bring the Scholastic order form home. I begged my parents for money to spend at the Scholastic Book Fair. When I became a parent, I saw that same wonder in my children’s eyes. Scholastic pulled a ‘separate but equal move’, but the public wasn’t having it. Culturally responsive content helps marginalized children see themselves, their lived experiences and communities represented in the stories they read. It also helps us learn more about communities we know nothing about, fostering a more inclusive society.”
Instagram- @childdefender1973
TikTok-@childrensdefensefund
X/Twitter-@ChildDefender
###
About Children’s Defense Fund
Celebrating 50 years in 2023, Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF advances the well-being of America’s most diverse generation, the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25. CDF’s grassroots movements in marginalized communities build power for child-centered public policy, informed by racial equity and the lived experience of children and youth. Its renowned CDF Freedom Schools® program is conducted in nearly 100 cities across 30 states and territories. Learn more at www.childrensdefense.org.