Earlier this week, I spoke on the House floor about book bans. I spoke about Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, a book that is currently being challenged in multiple states.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, it was not until I read that book as a young girl that I realized I was not alone. And when reflecting on the most challenging chapters of my life, I recall passages to make sense of it all and move forward.

So yes, when I say that books save lives — I mean it. They open doors. And any work in defense of books is life-saving work.

Whether it be a textbook, a cookbook, or a novel, books allow us to learn and explore in each stage of our life. And those support systems are now under threat, as the same draconian forces that place bans on our bodies are now attacking our books.

An estimated 3,300+ books were banned in the 2022-2023 school year, a 33% increase from the previous school year. In Massachusetts alone, we’ve witnessed the number of book challenges quadruple since 2021.

To no one’s surprise, these bans overwhelmingly target books about race and racism, as well as books with LGBTQ+ characters, as part of coordinated Republican efforts to erase and rewrite history, and to further marginalize people who already face discrimination in our society.

In multiple states, Republicans have sought to prohibit students from reading non-fiction and historical accounts because the subject matter tells the truth about the violent legacy of racial injustice in America.

The truth is, the dangerous trend of banning books across this country threatens to erase the contributions of thought leaders and truth-tellers across the racial, economic, and social spectrum. And it denies our students an inclusive learning environment and their right to see themselves reflected in our literature. We have a duty to protect our history, our stories, and our gifts for future generations. Their importance demands that we stand up, and we defend them. With my new Books Save Lives Act, we can do exactly this. Add your name if you agree.

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Everyone has a right to read, learn, and see themselves and their lived experience reflected in our literature. I have always talked about the importance of honoring the brilliance and diversity of our authors and librarians. They are the ones who are advocating for the continued representation of our communities in our books and the freedom to pursue boundless knowledge.

But extremist Republicans and far-right groups would rather censor books in our libraries and schools.

The threat of book bans across the country — and the need for accessible, representative literature — is greater than ever. This week, I was proud to introduce the Books Save Lives Act. This legislation would:

Classify discriminatory book bans as violations of federal civil rights laws;
Require public libraries and school libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books;
Ensure primary and secondary schools have a library with a trained librarian; and
Direct the Government Accountability Office to report on the effect of book bans on underrepresented communities.

If you agree that every reader has a right to free access to information and public education, where they can be greeted by books that reflect the diversity of lived experiences in their neighborhoods and around the world, add your name to become a grassroots co-sponsor of the Books Save Lives Act.

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Yours in service,

Ayanna