As I feel the nostalgic and contemplative air of Fall take affect on me, I reach for my well-loved copy of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.
Vuong’s introspective and evocative prose transcends me into a world of understanding oneself through the beauty of human connection and honesty. Lines such as “Because love, at its best, repeats itself. Shouldn’t it?” (34) and “I miss you more than I remember you” (186) brings my heart closer to words, closer to the self, and closer to others.
As I read the very words that cause me to pursue my own poetry, I take a moment to question, “What would I do if someone stripped this from me for the very reason I fell in love with it? How do we keep literature that allows us to feel seen?”
The Banned Book Movement has long attempted to censor and remove a variety of literary works across the U.S. Works ranging from classics such as Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), to the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Beloved (1987) by Toni Morrison, and recent works such as On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019).
The ALA reports that in 2023 there were 1,247 demands to censor library books and other resources. This number of demands, though staggering on its own, is actually a 65% increase from 2022, the highest level ever documented in more than 20 years of tracking book censorship.
If these novels are considered classics and profound literary achievements, why censor them?
According to the ALA, a majority of demands for censorship are for, “the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals” who make up 47% of the targeted censorship attempts.
Book banning is not an isolated event. Banning books affects institutions, businesses, school curriculum, but more importantly, it affects people. A variety of underrepresented communities are making their way into current popular media and rightfully so. However, the unjust attempts of book bans and censorship aim to reinforce the structures that these voices are courageously pursuing to dismantle.
Additionally, students are lacking important topics of discussion such as race, sexism, oppressive systems, gender, intersectionality, and more. By not allowing students to explore these critical areas of our society, banning books fails our students.
So, what do we do?
This week, K-State is hosting its annual Banned Books Week event, Monday through Friday, 12:30-1:30pm, in the second floor “living room” of Hale Library. This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the movement, engage in conversation, and to just enjoy the beauty of literature.
More than anything, staying informed and uplifting the stories that are often targeted by censorship is one of the most supportive and influential ways to actively fight against the Banned Books Movement.
Go to your local bookstores. Read what is meaningful to you. Your voice will always matter.
If you would like more information about banned books, check out the ALA website at https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.
— Lillianna Lamagna, Sigma Tau Delta Vice President (BA ’25)
K-State English 