Pink is giving away 2,000 banned books to fans at her upcoming Florida concerts
With an alarming number of states passing legislation to ban books written by or about marginalized people, Pink has announced plans to help ensure that her fans have access to banned titles. Ahead of two upcoming concerts in Florida — the state with the most active book bans — the singer will be giving away 2,000 banned books to attendees looking to take them home.
The mom of two is teaming up with PEN America and Florida bookseller Books & Books to distribute 1,000 books each at her 2023 TRUSTFALL Tour stops in Miami and Sunrise on Nov. 14th and 15th, respectively. The books available to fans will be: “The Family Book,” by Todd Parr, “The Hill We Climb,” by Amanda Gorman, “Beloved,” by Toni Morrison, and a book from “Girls Who Code,” founded by Reshma Saujani. All four books have been listed in PEN America’s Index of Banned Books for the 2022-2023 school year.
“Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that’s why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools,” the singer said in a statement announcing the partnership. “It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books.”
“We are thrilled to be working with P!nk on this important cause,” said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read Program. “Every child deserves access to literature that reflects their lives. Rampant censorship is depriving kids of the chance to see themselves in books and learn about the world and its history.”
Among the 33 states with active book bans, PEN America notes that Florida accounts for more than 40 percent of all documented bans in the country, setting a dangerous precedent for access to education, information, and basic constitutional rights for students. These book bans are mirrored by the state’s spate of laws passed to limit open discussion in schools about the topics of race and gender/sexuality identity in recent years.
Bravo to Pink and PEN America for spearheading this initiative and helping her fans secure well-deserved access to four important (and senselessly targeted) books.
