Texas continues American tradition of issue with books
Texas is back in the news. It seems the state can't get out of the news actually. This time, it is about books in schools.
State representative Matt Krause, a Republican from Fort Worth and chair of the General Investigating Committee, is at the center of controversy after announcing the committe will investigate school library book collections.
The focus on books that feature human sexuality and systemic racism.
LINK: Texas looks into 850 books
In an October 25 letter, Krause, penned, “the committee may initiate inquiries concerning any ‘matter the committee considers necessary for the information of the legislature or for the welfare and protection of state citizens."
On first reading, this edict gives a wide range of power to this panel, and comes off as unchecked with an air of "we know what is best for you," a sentiment that seems to fly in the face of conservative ideology, which has long stated individuals know what is best for them.
Not to mention the hypocrisy of complaining about cancel culture, while simultanously looking to cancel something you don't like.
It has been a busy month in Texas with books:
-On October 8, news broke out of the Dallas suburb of Southlake about a crackdown on books educators kept in their classrooms.
-On October 6 the Houston-based Katy Independent School district banned two books by Jerry Craft, after parents decried the graphic novels promote critical race theory.
Other instances have broken out across the country in a backlash to critical race theory, the academic movement to examine race's tangled role in American history, and the push for more gender inclusion.
But the debate of what book is appropriate or not is a long running battle between schools, parents, and politicians.
In 1885 the Concord, Mass. library banned "Huckleberry Finn," a book to this day is battled over if it should be in a public schools.
Fastforward to 1960, a high school in Tulsa, Okla. fired a teacher for having "Catcher in the Rye," a book that remains controversial to this day for its language, sex and violence. Ironically, George Orwell's "1984" was also a banned book.
More recently, both the "Hunger Games" and "Harry Potter" series were challenged. Books by young adult author Chris Crutcher were also a hot button in the early to mid-2000s for the language and themes contained in the pages.
So when you break it down, this move by Texas is cliche' and an on-the-nose-brand piece of Americana.
In the end, this may just be a political stunt by Krause, who is running for the GOP attorney general nomination.
He is going against incumbent, and Tea Party conservative Ken Paxton, who is under security fraud indictment; former state supreme court justice Eva Guzman; not to mention the name brand recognition George P. Bush, the son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, brings to the field.
Even if this is just a political stunt, it carries real consequences. In the marketplace of ideas, which America likes to pride itself on until it gets uncomfortable, books give a weighty, thought-provoking avenue to consider thesis, themes and issues.
For children and teenagers, books, much like film, can give a controlled, safe way to examine, confront and consider complicated and uncomfortable subject matters in a constructive way.
Personally, no books should be banned. I'm sure you may be yelling at your screen or phone, "What about such-and-such book that advocates terrible thing X?" No, disembodied contrarian in my brain, not even that one.
Just because you stand by a book's existance doesn't mean you cosign its message.
LINK: Florida social media law ban
When you ban a book, even if it has monstrous ideology or is antithetical to your belief system, you give that book or message more power through the acknowledgement.
Sure, there are those books that really look to challenge sensabilities, status quos and shock the reader. But I'd argue those books are the most important: Growth only happens through challenge. You cannot grow as a person if your views aren't challenged.
And yes, many of the books coming out now want the reader to confront uncomfortable subject matter that can challenge status quo, especially issues affecting women, LGBTQ+ and non-whites. But at the bare minimum, they are perspectives that ask simply to be heard, acknowledged and considered.
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