12 contemporary books by Black authors that are banned for writing about race, sexuality, and police brutality

• In 2021, debates against the academic framework of critical race theory opened the door for a series of book bans.

• Award-winning literature like "The 1619 Project" and "The Hate You Give" have been banned in parts of the country.

• Here are 12 books by Black authors that are banned for writing about race, sexuality, and police brutality.

Banning books is not a new phenomenon. But more recently, in 2021, debates against the academic framework of critical race theory opened the door for a series of book bans. From state and local school districts banning award-winning literature like "The 1619 Project" and "The Hate You Give" to a plethora of bills and legislation controlling the means in which school districts can discuss race with students, there have been numerous recent efforts to restrict the free speech of Black authors and educators. Just this January, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration rejected The College Board's new African American History Advanced Placement curriculum. The final curriculum released in February censored themes of Black queerness and Black feminism, along with several other topics tied to race and identity.

While banning books does not make them illegal, it does make them harder to find at your local bookstore or school library. Below are 12 highly-acclaimed banned and challenged books by Black authors for readers of all ages.

"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

This highly-raved novel, which sat atop The New York Times bestseller list for 50 weeks and was adapted into a highly successful film, follows the story of 16-year-old Starr Carter, who navigates being a young Black girl going back and forth between two very different worlds.

Living in a predominantly Black, low-income neighborhood while attending a predominantly white suburban prep school, Carter finds herself questioning her friendships and exploring her identity after witnessing the fatal police shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil. When tasked with sharing her testimony of what took place during the tragic encounter, Carter battles between standing up for her community and protecting her peace. Addressing issues of racism and police violence, "The Hate U Give" is a timely response to the positive and transformative efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement. Quickly after its debut, the book was banned by school officials in Katy, Texas, for "inappropriate language."

"Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson

"Monday's Not Coming" is a mystery novel about one teenage girl's disappearance and her best friend's willingness to solve her case. The story sheds light on the very real issue of missing Black girls and women in America and of the lack of media coverage and police involvement with such cases, while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking storyline that keeps readers engaged. Loudoun County School District parents organized to have the book banned for mentions of sexual abuse and violence.

"All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson

In this young adult nonfiction "memoir-manifesto," journalist and LGBTQ activist George M. Johnson explores his youth as a queer Black man growing up in New Jersey and Virginia. This collection of essays provides teenagers with the tools to become better allies to queer folk, while also providing representation for the experiences of young Black queer men.

Diving into topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy, "All Boys Aren't Blue" is a call to action and cultural critique worth reading. The book has several notable accolades, including being a New York Times Bestseller, a New York Library Best Book of 2020, and People Magazine Best Book of the Summer. As of November 2021, school libraries across eight states labeled the book as pornographic and issued a ban the book for its mentions of consensual sex and sexual abuse.

"Ghost Boys" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Released in 2018, "Ghost Boy" is a young adult novel following the story of 12-year-old Jerome, a Black boy who is shot and killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real firearm. Jerome returns to his crime scene as a ghost, and witnesses the pain and turmoil his family and community are suffering from because of his unjust murder.

During his visit, Jerome befriends the ghost of Emmitt Till, a 14-year-old Black boy who was brutally murdered in 1955. Together, the two take on a journey of racial reckoning that explores the ways in which history repeats itself. Various school districts across America have banned the book for its portrayal of police brutality. Additionally, a Florida police union labeled the story as "propaganda that pushes an inaccurate and absurd stereotype of police officers in America" and has led to a local school district banning the book.

"The Stars and the Blackness Between Them" by Junauda Petrus

Sixteen-year-old Mabel and Audre fall in love when the universe unexpectedly brings them together in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As two Black girls from extremely different parts of the world – America and Trinidad, both are exploring their sexuality and what it means to be queer in a conservative environment. With explorations of race, sexuality, and love, "The Stars and the Blackness Between Them" is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and among 850 other titles that Republican State Representative Matt Krause proposed for banning in schools across Texas.

"All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

"All American Boys" follows the story of two teenage boys — one black, one white — who struggle to deal with the repercussions of a mistaken shoplifting case. When Rashad is brutalized by a cop, who is also the caretaker of the only witness, Quinn, civil unrest takes over the community.

Finding out what really went down in the bodega that Paul was purchasing a bag of chips from results in the entire city feeling divided. The book is a Coretta Scott King Honor Award–winning novel, a New York Times Best Seller, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature. It's been challenged by the Fraternal Order of Police in Charleston County, South Carolina, who claim the book encourages mistrust of the police.

"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker

This popular story follows sisters Celie and Nettie who are determined to maintain their relationship after being separated during childhood. It was adapted into a highly-praised film in 1985 and has won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Despite its high recognition, the novel is constantly challenged for "language and explicit content" and has been banned by Texas prisons for its "sexual and racial content."

"Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

In this award-winning book on racism and antiracism in America, author duo Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds shine a light on the racist ideology infiltrating our society and provide readers with tools to identify and stamp out the racist thoughts that creep into their daily lives. The book has been challenged across school districts for vulgar language and discussions of race.

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

From the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner, "The Bluest Eye" explores society's obsession with beauty and conformity through the lens of race, class, and gender. Following the story of  Pecola Breedlove — an 11-year-old Black girl who prays that her eyes will turn blue, this national bestseller is a timeless examination of what it means to grow up Black in America. Along with "The Bluest Eye," Morrison's books, including "Song of Solomon" (1977) and "Beloved" (1982), have been frequently challenged or banned for their graphic content.

"Hood Feminism" by Mikki Kendall

In this collection of essays, author Mikki Kendall explores feminism through the lens of Blackness while also shedding light on the ways in which white feminism and mainstream feminism do not often prioritize intersectionality. A New York Times Best Seller, "Hood Feminism" draws attention to the issues grappling our nation, such as food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care. It is one of the many Black-authored books that has been pulled from Texas school libraries to censor discussions of race and sexuality.

"Class Act" by Jerry Craft

"Class Act" is a graphic novel by Jerry Craft that follows eighth-grader Drew Ellis as he navigates being one of the few kids of color at his predominantly white private school. When he realizes he is receiving less opportunities but working harder than most of his privileged peers, one of them being his best friend, he begins to withdraw from his friend group. The book has received much praise, including the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize. Along with Craft's first book, "The New Kid", "Class Act" has been banned as part of efforts to stamp out "critical race theory" in schools.

"The 1619 Project" by Nikole Hannah-Jones

In late 1619, a ship carrying a cargo of 20 to 30 enslaved people from Africa arrived in the British colony of Virginia. From that day forward, the system of American chattel slavery lasted for the next 250 years, and still defines the systems in which America operates today. A winner of several honors, including being a #1 New York Times Bestseller, receiving an NAACP Image Award, and being the finalist for the Kirkus Prize, "The 1619 Project" is a collection of essays, poems and works of fiction that shed light on our country's relationship with oppression, struggle, and resistance. The book has been banned by the Florida State Board of Education in part to remove the education of "critical race theory" in schools.

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