Books are challenged and banned by people in libraries all around the United States. Most banning of books comes from parents wanting to eliminate them from schools and curriculum, and not wanting their kids to read what they think is “inappropriate.” This is a problem because it is truly unfair to authors who put so much effort into their books and have every right to write about whatever they want without it being taken away.
Firstly, banning books is a violation of the Constitution. The First Amendment not only gives Americans the right to speak, but it also gives people the freedom to receive information. If one reads something they do not believe or support, it does not mean it gives them the right to take it away from others who are interested in reading or learning more about that. It would be okay for a parent to not allow their own children to read a specific book but to go out of their way to make sure others do not is completely unethical and a violation of the First Amendment. The Constitution also does not allow a group to control what somebody reads, meaning that parents ban them. Banning books limits the free thought of people and access to information that goes directly against the First Amendment.
Another reason books should not be banned is because of the fact that it takes away educational value and diversity from students. Many of the banned books contain lessons about racism, culture, identity, and human experiences. When those books are removed, students do not get the opportunity to learn about what truly happens in the world, basically hiding them from the truth. One book that has been highly challenged is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It was challenged because of the so called “inappropriate” language and real world conflicts mentioned in the book. Education and reading should not be filtered out, but instead expose kids to reality, especially if one is interested in that specific topic.
Lastly, banning books is simply unfair to authors. Writing books can take years of hard work, dedication, and thought. For someone to come and ban the book from the public is wrong, because part of being an author is being able to write about your own opinion or thoughts without being punished by others. People often forget that being an author means their income comes from publishing books, and by people attempting to get rid of them, authors will be affected.
Every book in the world should be free for anybody to read without having the problem of people wanting to ban it. It is really just an unfair, selfish act by those who try.
