As a Queer person of color, I never fit in with the other kids in grade school. I used books to escape from reality, and looked for comfort in the stories I read, but I never fully saw myself in them because they weren’t “made for me.” It wasn’t until college that I found books by BIPOC and Queer authors that made me feel seen, and I found my “safe space” in literature. I want kids to find a “safe space” within books at an early age, but for this to happen, we must stop banning diverse books in American schools.
Across the United States, K-12 schools are banning books that are deemed “inappropriate” and “unethical” by administrators, parents, and community members. Books such as George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give, and Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, discuss matters of racial, sexual and gender identities, and shed light on the experiences that marginalized communities face. Conservative parents portray these topics as part of a “radical liberal” agenda that they should shield children from, and then, urge schools to remove them from the curriculum. This is supported by state politicians, like the governor of South Carolina, who urged a superintendent and law enforcement to investigate the “obscene and pornographic” materials, like Kobabe’s Gender Queer, in public schools. Therefore, several states are being forced to have an exclusionary curriculum in their schools.
The education system is traditionally structured to promote a whitewashed, heteronormative version of American history that excludes the continuous oppression of marginalized groups. By parents, politicians, and educators agreeing to remove diverse books from curriculums, they are telling children that these identities are shameful and abnormal. When racism and homophobia are discussed, they are treated as issues of the past that have little impact on present day society. Consequently, BIPOC and Queer voices are consistently silenced in classroom discussions, and children are denied the opportunity to explore their own identities and perspectives. The education system should promote intersectional teachings to give visibility to underrepresented groups and expose America’s oppressive reality.
By having an inclusive curriculum, students can discover an entirely new worldview and understand that there is not one way to live life. Learning about marginalized identities shifts perspectives, and helps kids understand how people may perceive the world differently. For students who identify as BIPOC and Queer, reading a book centered on the exploration of race and identity is like looking in a mirror. We can find community and solidarity with authors we have never met based on a shared experience. We can learn about our identities and histories and heal from trauma that has been terrifying to face. By learning from a young age, we can prevent further traumas for ourselves and loved ones because we were taught lessons by those who came before us. Our books encourage outsiders to recognize our existence and how their actions impact our everyday lives. Without our stories being told, there is no chance for societal attitudes to change.
Finding a sense of community in grade school can be difficult as a marginalized person. The negative ideologies people have associated with BIPOC and Queer communities create isolating environments, especially for youth who feel pressured to fit in. For many students, our only “safe spaces” in schools are in classrooms where teachers make it apparent that they are supportive of marginalized groups. Having an inclusive curriculum of BIPOC/Queer narratives shows students that diversity matters, and that we have a place of belonging in classrooms. This positively impacts marginalized people’s mental health. According to a 2021 survey conducted by The Trevor Project, having a designated safe space led to decreased depressive episodes and suicidal ideation in queer youth. This is especially important for queer students of color, as the Trevor Project reported that up to 31% of Queer BIPOC youth are impacted by depression and suicide, compared to 12% of Queer white youth. Having an intersectional class curriculum where both race and queer histories are taught ensures that a safe space is created for all students. Queer youth report finding their sources of strength and joy through “support in schools, escaping through reading and writing, learning more about LGBTQ history, and educational opportunities.” Therefore, inclusive curriculums and diverse books liberate marginalized students and save their lives in the process.
The education system believes that by not talking about marginalized identities, we will simply stop existing, but the push to ban diverse books is making our voices stronger. Now more than ever, marginalized people and our allies are fighting for our histories to be shared with younger generations that have the potential to change the future. Books keep our legacies alive and allow children to find community and understanding in our stories.
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