Commentary By: De’Jah Seabrooks, Follow South Jersey Intern
One of my first memories was me being so excited to finally be old enough to get my own library card. I could just barely write my first name across the back of the white glossy card. I had been practicing how to for weeks prior with my mom, eager to finally be able to have a card of my own to check out books at my public library. My love for reading started when I was a toddler, from my mom reading to me and taking me to the library to pick out books with me. From my toddler favorites of Frog and Toad, Dr. Seuss to my childhood favorites of The Magic Treehouse, The Sisters Eight, Dork Diaries, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Though at a young age I realized something very daunting, none of my favorite characters looked like me. In fact any books I had seen at that age that featured black people were almost all non fiction and highlighting some of America’s darkest times whether the massacres on black people throughout slavery or even after during the civil rights movement. I didn’t know it then but this realization sparked my disinterest in reading.
My teen years I took a break from reading, my favorite series from my childhood seemed too babyish and the only “books” I had any interest in were stories on wattpad made by other people who were around my own age. It was wattpad books and books for school papers that made up a majority of the literature I consumed in my high school years. However, there was one book that I read in my AP English Literature class that stood out to me titled “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” This book sparked a fire in me to really connect the dots of what the injustices I had been seeing but couldn’t articulate.
Seeing a book like this at an age where I could properly understand it and connect it to the scary world around me. When kids my age or younger were being shot dead by police like Tamir Rice or unjustly imprisoned like The Central Park 5, this book helped me make sense of things. Answering some of the questions I had no other outlet or answers to.
I went on to graduate high school and enter college as a freshman in 2020. I was shocked to find that very book; that changed my outlook on my own experience as a black woman in America, was on a list of books to be banned. These bans taking place throughout America specifically in schools. Anything that remotely tackled critical race theory , or loving one’s own differences were demonized.
Luckily, being in the state of Jersey I wasn’t too overtly worried about the bans affecting my own school let alone any school that wasn’t privately owned. However I soon learned this was a privilege and not an expectation. In a powerful demonstration of his commitment to intellectual freedom, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the “Freedom to Read Act” into law on December 9, 2024 according to NJ.
This groundbreaking legislation directly addresses the alarming rise of book bans sweeping across the country, similar to the bans taking place now affecting approximately 67,000 children that attend Pentagon schools (as a result of their guardians working for the military) according to The Guardian. In passing this act Murphy is establishing a defense against censorship in public school libraries. The Act explicitly prohibits the banning of books based on the origin, background, or viewpoints of the author or the material itself. This crucial provision safeguards against discriminatory targeting of works by authors of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized voices like myself. Ensuring that library collections reflect the rich diversity of our society no matter how different we may be from one another .
The “Freedom to Read Act” sends a resounding message: New Jersey values the free flow of information and trusts the professional judgment of its librarians and educators. These individuals are trained to curate collections that are age-appropriate, relevant to the curriculum, and representative of a wide spectrum of perspectives. By codifying these protections into law, New Jersey joins a growing number of states actively pushing back against censorship efforts that seek to narrow the range of ideas available to young people. This proactive approach underscores the state’s recognition that access to diverse literature is not just a privilege, but a fundamental right essential for a well-informed and engaged citizenry. The rise in book bans has been documented by organizations like PEN America & the American Library Association, highlighting the increasing challenges to intellectual freedom.
This law represents a significant victory for students, parents, and communities who understand the transformative power of books. So many of the children’s books that my daughter is able to read now(Hair Love, Dream Big Little One, etc.) would’ve been tremendously helpful to my mother in explaining my differences to me. This act guarantees that young minds in New Jersey will have access to a rich tapestry of stories, allowing them to explore different cultures, identities, and worldviews. By encountering diverse narratives, students can develop critical thinking skills, cultivate empathy, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. The “Freedom to Read Act” empowers them to engage with complex issues, challenge their own assumptions, and form their own informed opinions. The National Education Association found that in 2014 was the first year when a majority of public schools had books that represented minorities. Research has shown the positive impact of diverse literature on student development. This can be seen from the NEA as well, a study conducted by The Century Foundation showed that having different perspectives helped with creating positive learning outcomes. This as well as better critical thinking, more readiness and resilience once entering adulthood and creativity.
These book bans throughout the country are going as far up to the collegiate level. Seeing as states like Florida have passed a bill called SB 266, which as it states on the Florida Senate website “courses may not distort significant historical events or teach identity politics and specified concepts related to discrimination.” Said bill is being used to pull funding for any clubs or organizations that promote diversity equity or inclusion. Including Women’s studies, African American Studies, and Queer Studies, as all three fall under either identity politics, distorting historical events or touch on discrimination.
As residents of New Jersey, we are protected from the harsh realities that book bans can have. Truthfully I feel the fight against book bans is a fight for intellectual freedom and the very soul of a well-informed citizen. These bans, often targeting marginalized voices, undermine critical thinking and democratic principles.
While concerns about parental rights are valid, they cannot justify suppressing ideas for all. The power to choose what to read lies with the individual and must be protected. Though there is something we can do to help. If you or anyone you know is compelled to help you can sign up today to fight against book bans at Unite Against Book Bans.
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