Our Latest: 10,000+ Book Bans
As we face post-election concerns about free expression, our latest report on book bans documents an exponential increase in book bans in U.S. schools, with more than 10,000 instances in the 2023-24 school year, overwhelmingly affecting books featuring people of color and with LGBTQ+ identities. Our recent policy analysis shows how the proposals in Project 2025 -- a conservative blueprint written for the president-elect -- would make this crisis far worse, taking censorial legislation to the federal level.
Read the Report >> [[link removed]]
Read our Project 2025 analysis >> [[link removed]]
PEN America Defends
Urgent Safety Assistance for Journalists
PEN America’s digital safety team, in collaboration with the Knight Election Hub and an all-star group of safety experts and organizations, launched the Election Urgent Care safety helpline. The helpline is providing U.S. journalists and newsrooms through Inauguration Day with support for digital, physical, psychosocial, and legal concerns—from dealing with doxing, threats, and arrests to preparing for risky assignments.
Get help today >> [[link removed]]
Nov. 15: Day of the Imprisoned Writer
[[link removed]] This Friday, Nov. 15, is the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, commemorated by the PEN International network to show solidarity with unjustly imprisoned writers. Acclaimed author Dinaw Mengestu , vice president of PEN America’s Board of Trustees, joined friends and colleagues of PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Awardee Pham Doan Trang in conversation with PEN America Members. You can show solidarity by writing a letter for the #WritetoTrang campaign.
Watch the Replay >> Write a Letter >> [[link removed]]
Member Spotlight
This week’s Member Spotlight features Trespass: Portraits of the Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding [[link removed]] by PEN America Member Kim Watson . As seen through the eyes of photographer Watson, who has spent three years on the streets of Los Angeles documenting his intimate and deeply felt relationships with the unhoused, Trespass offers an honest and unflinching depiction of the beauty and humanity of unhoused life.
More about Trespass >> [[link removed]]
View 2024 publications by PEN America Members >> [[link removed]]
PEN America Reads
An Interview With Dr. Debbie Reese
Dr. Debbie Reese , founder of American Indians in Children's Literature, believes kids need more exposure to Native people in the present tense. She spoke to our Amulya Hiremath about how stereotypes in children’s books are shaping what non-Native people think.
Read the Interview >> [[link removed]]
Applications Open: DREAMing Out Loud
[link removed] [[link removed]] DREAMing Out Loud is a paid, tuition-free creative writing workshop series for migrant writers in which participants develop original short stories, poetry, and/or personal essays to be performed at public readings. The program seeks to counter anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. and to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized because of their immigration status. Applications are open through November 30.
Apply today >> [[link removed]]
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Ellis Angel Makes Art From Banned Books
Artist Ellis Angel spoke about her latest weaving series, The Censor’s Cut: Weavings for Intellectual Freedom , which was presented at Magic City Books in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a part of Banned Books Week 2024. In the interview, she discussed the role books play in her life, how she took to weaving, and the impact she hopes to have.
Read the interview >> [[link removed]]
PEN America Events
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Monday, November 18
6:00 PM ET
Online webinar
In a panel discussion, author Ocean Vuong and PEN America's Kasey Meehan will join freedom to read advocates to delve into the emotional landscape of activism in the fight against book bans.
Register here >> [[link removed]]
PEN America in the News
* Freedom to Read Program Director Kasey Meehan spoke about our report on book bans, which made headlines across the country. ( New York Times [[link removed]] , AP [[link removed]] , People [[link removed]] )
* Jeremy Young, Freedom to Learn program director, spoke about our America’s Censored Classrooms report, which documented the right’s “all-out assault on educational speech. ( The Progressive [[link removed]] , Instruction Discussion [[link removed]] )
* Interim Co-CEO Summer Lopez spoke at the Harry Ransom Center in Texas, where an exhibit on the Story of PEN will be up through August [[link removed]] .
* Washington College students joined a PEN America Student Colloquium, an opportunity to delve into the complexities of free expression in higher education. ( Washington College [[link removed]] )
* PEN America and the Los Angeles Public Library held a student summit discussing bias, misinformation and the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence. ( San Fernando Sun [[link removed]] )
Quote of the Week
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“I have a million better things to do with my time than keep kids from books. Teachers have real work to do.”
— Educator in Iowa, from the report Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves
Trending on PEN America
Many Black Americans received racist text messages from unknown sources following the election. These messages demonstrate how the selling of our private data online, like our phone numbers, can amplify hateful campaigns and put us at risk. But we’re not powerless. This one-minute video shows how to clean up your online footprint and protect yourself. [link removed] [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Check it out >> [[link removed]]
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