Banning Books in Miami

New York Times Editorial published February 10, 2009
Banning Books in Miami

Schools are supposed to introduce children to a variety of ideas and viewpoints, but a few years ago, the Miami-Dade School Board decided to put one viewpoint off limits. It banned the children’s book “A Visit to Cuba” from its school libraries because it said the book offers too positive a portrait of life under the Castro regime. Adding insult to injury, a federal appeals court upheld the ban last week.

Past Coverage
Miami-Dade School Board Bans Cuba Book (June 16, 2006)

Banned Books Week

Since its beginnings in 1982, Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. This year (September 27 – October 4) marks BBW’s 27th anniversary and to kick off Banned Books Week in Chicago, the American Library Association, the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, and the Chicago Tribune will host a Banned Books Week Read-Out! The event will feature popular banned or challenged authors and local Chicago celebrities on Saturday, September 27, from noon to 3:00, at Pioneer Plaza.

Banned Books Week raises awareness both in the United States and internationally about threats to free speech. Banned Books Week was started by the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association.

If you are in the Chicago area, why not drop by to hear noted, banned authors including Judy Blume, Stephen Chbosky, Chris Crutcher, Lois Lowry, Lauren Myracle, and Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell. Rumor has it that book signings will follow their readings. Far from Chicago? Consider hosting your own Read Out. Info is available on how to do an effective event, big or small.at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/actionguide/actionguide.cfm