Back to School Banned Book Story Time 2025
Back to School Banned Book Story Time 2025
Welcome Back boys and girls and non binary
friends across the gender spectrum to the second
year of our Banned Book Story Time.
Unfortunately like most sequels,
the banned book saga has grown and expanded its reach
across the country. So let’s dive in.
We are here today, to talk about Banned Books,
but more importantly, we are here to celebrate the diverse
and imaginative stories and authors who create these books.
At UUCB we partner with Foundation 451, who helped us
create our Little Free Library out front.
We are part of a network of locations in Brevard county
that help people, and especially kids, have access to these books.
We want everyone to be able to read stories they can identify
with, and to learn about the stories of others.
Florida has set the blueprint for banning books
with several pieces of legislation, but we are not the only ones.
Instances of book bans are most prevalent
in Florida and Iowa, followed by Texas, Missouri,
Utah, and South Carolina.
PEN America defines a school book ban as any action
taken against a book based on its content…that leads
to a previously accessible book being either
completely removed from availability to students,
or where access to a book is restricted
or diminished.
So even when a book is not banned, the content can
be restricted due to overreaching policies and those
restrictions have gone national, with 3 letters
D-E-I. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Let’s break it down.
This refers to the representation of different individuals within a
group or organization. It includes aspects like race, ethnicity,
gender, sexual orientation, religion,
and socioeconomic background.
Equity:
Unlike equality, which provides the same resources to everyone,
equity recognizes that individuals may need different levels
of support to reach the same outcome.
It's about removing barriers and providing targeted
support to those who need it most.
Inclusion:
This is about actively creating a culture where everyone feels
a sense of belonging and can contribute their unique perspectives.
Inclusion goes beyond simply having
diverse representation; it involves ensuring that everyone feels
welcomed, respected, and valued.
DEI initiatives are often implemented to address historical and
systemic inequalities and create more equitable and inclusive
environments in workplaces and communities.
Sounds great, so what’s the problem?
On January 20, 2025, the current President issued an
executive order entitled
“Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” -
which states the Office of Personnel Management shall
coordinate the termination of all
discriminatory programs, including what they call “illegal DEI”.
So once again a vague policy can remove content
without actually banning the book.
Last year we featured two great children’s books.
The first one was Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry,
which is the story of a dad and daughter and how they
learn together to do her natural hair which as zuri says
has a mind of its own.
While not usually banned, it is avoided because it can start a
conversation about race through differences in types of hair.
And by Pen America’s definition,
if the content is not allowed, the book is essentially banned.
The second book we featured last year was
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.
This is the story of two male penguins at the Central
Park Zoo who adopt “Tango” and raise him from an egg.
It is based on a true story, and is one of the
most consistently banned books in the country, simply because
it portrays two parents of the same sex.
LGGTQ books in Florida, are routinely banned through
H.B. 1557, the 2022 The legislation, called the Parental
Rights in Education law, that opponents
have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
It prohibited teachers from discussing sexual orientation
and gender identity in the classroom.
Also they use
HB 1069, 2023 legislation defining biological “sex”
that limits material that depicts or describes
sexual conduct from schools.
This year, the first book we are reading is
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings.
This is the story of a transgender child based on
the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings.
This book is often banned for many of the same reasons listed above.
Often citing discomfort with the story of a transgender child,
stating it is against people’s
beliefs or that the book is not appropriate for young children.
If a parent has an issue, in most schools they can limit
access to a book for their child, the problem is when they
try to restrict it for everyone, and more
and more content is being suppressed, either by
parent challenges or legislation both at the state
and national levels.
We want all young people, especially those who have
felt marginalized, to be seen, heard, and represented.
And that is why our partnership here at UUCB
is so important for our community. So in that spirit
let us read our first book.
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings.
(Read I am Jazz)
Now our second book is banned not just for what is in the book,
but what it makes us feel. The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,
by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson,
a children's book stemming from The 1619 Project.
Both books are often targeted for
discussing the history of slavery in this country, and the
discomfort that can cause.
Race, along with gender and sexuality, are common reasons
books are removed.
The law in Florida most often used to ban books related to race is
HB7, known to many as the Stop W.O.K.E. act
and officially called the Individual Freedom Act.
Among other things, it prevents teachers from discussing
advantages or disadvantages based on race.
So here’s some more letters that have a big impact
C-R-T. Critical Race Theory. Let’s discuss what Critical
Race Theory or “woke” is, and what it is not.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a legal academic framework
that examines how race and racism have shaped American
laws, institutions, and society. It says
racism is not just individual bias, but is systemic and
embedded in legal systems and policies.
CRT originated in the 1970s and 80s among legal scholars
who felt that the progress of the Civil Rights Movement was
insufficient in addressing racial inequality.
While history is taught in public schools, CRT specifically is not.
"Woke" originated as a call for Black Americans to be
aware of racial injustice, but has been weaponized by
white politicians in recent years and culturally appropriated.
These are often catch all terms for any discussion of race,
racism, diversity initiatives, progressive or social justice-related ideas,
or inclusive education.
The ideas of systematic racism can also be found in works
like the 1619 project which talks about the larger and far
reaching impacts of slavery and systemic
racism in American society.
In another executive order, the current President issued
Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling on January 29, 2025,
specifically targeting what
he considered CRT, as well as gender identity.
It states innocent children are compelled to adopt identities as
either victims or oppressors solely based on their skin color
and other immutable characteristics.
In other words, we want to make history and reality “comfortable”.
Well that’s not how education or history works and
that’s not how we grow and learn.
We as UU’s love a good conversation, and our beliefs are
diverse and inclusive. We should welcome learning about
each other, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Now we are going to read our second book,
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,
by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson.
And I will be honest, it is a difficult read, even for a
children’s book. It tackles a big topic, the history of
slavery in the Americas,
as told through a grandmother’s eyes.
When the class is asked to trace their family tree, Grandma
teaches them their history through slavery and beyond
to their roots in Africa and their perseverance
today as a people born on the water.
You, like me, may feel a lot of emotions while hearing this book.
Anger, guilt, sadness and many others. And those of us like me
with white European ancestry
may feel uncomfortable.
But it’s OK to learn about things that make us uncomfortable,
in fact it’s important to learn about and share these stories.
History is important and people’s
stories are important, even the uncomfortable ones.
(Read Born on the Water)
So, what can we do to keep access for everyone?
First we can help inform others about banned books,
and the importance of having access to diverse stories.
You can support people providing access to these
books like Foundation 451, who has a network of
libraries at churches, and local shops.
You can build a little free library in your yard or a
place of business and stock it with a variety of books.
You can attend board meetings, sign up to speak
and share information online.
And you can vote, and support those who
support access to books.
We here at UUCB believe in the mission of the Little Free Library,
which is to build community, by inspiring readers
and expanding book access around the world.
And the mission of our other partner, Foundation 451
is to get banned and challenged books directly into the
hands of students, to heighten awareness
of the need for a plurality of ideas,
and to build a society that truly honors freedom, justice,
and inclusivity.
Remember to share those voices you have heard today,
help us to create spaces where we can learn about one another,
stretch beyond our comfort zones and Read Banned Books together.
Thank you.
