Recent events in regards to our education system display the American trend of not being able to understand what the learning process is supposed to be. Education at its best is something that creates a space for us to sometimes be uncomfortable, something that establishes a sense of humility and makes us think more empathetically.
On the other end of the spectrum learning about things can make us proud, can illuminate examples that we strive towards in our lives, and showcases events that we desire to identify with. That being said, the American trend being discussed pertains to only understanding and believing in the latter part of the spectrum.
What is being discussed in particular is the conservative push to censor education and ban books in lower and higher education. This process is primarily dealt with at the local and state level, and in some cases, attempts have been made at the federal level as well. The aim of these bills is to censor and shift academic conversations away from topics that include critiques of America’s relationship with race and gender, as well as the correct and uncomfortable history of this country.
All of this builds upon a recent illiberal trend to “silence a vital societal discourse on racism and sexism.” The bans largely fall under the umbrella of what the right claims is critical race theory, which in actuality is a complex topic regarding how our legal system functions and is only seriously discussed in upper-level college courses and graduate programs.
As of Feb. 11, 2021, there are 81 pending bills in 27 different states that aim to complete the objective stated above. Of these 81 bills, 39 aim at targeting the higher education of adults. Such as the state of Alabama, who is attempting to pass HB8 which aims at prohibiting “public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education from teaching certain concepts regarding race or sex, such as critical race theory.” The most important aspect of this bill relates to what the legislators define as “divisive concepts.”
One definition provided within the bill is that a divisive concept arises when “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.” This statement however is not unique to this bill. Iowa’s SF 478 for example has a comparable definition which states that a divisive concept occurs when “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of that individual’s race or sex.”
Both of these bills have 9 separate definitions for what a divisive concept can be, with each corresponding definition matching each other almost word for word. Almost all of the other bills pertaining to education contain the same wordings, displaying the ease with which these bills are being replicated throughout the country.
More specific efforts are being made to ban certain books. According to the 2021 special report published by the American Library Association, 273 books were affected by censorship efforts in 2020. Since then these efforts have increased with there being 330 “book challenges” in 2021 alone.
Some of the more popular efforts have centered around titles such as Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” and Ibrahim X Kendi’s “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You”. Books regarding gender and LGBTQIA+ have been honed in on by conservatives as well. Such as Alex Gino’s “George” due to it conflicting with religious beliefs and “community values.”
Of all these challenges made, 50% of them have been filed by parents of the given communities with other large portions of complaints being made by patrons, boards and administrations, and religious and political groups. These legislations and specific books bans represent a widespread grassroots conservative movement to censor educational tools to provide students with a way to better understand how American society has and still does function.
The largest issue with these efforts and what they display is centered around a misunderstanding of what the educational process is supposed to be. From an interpersonal perspective, you cannot grow to become a better person unless you take a second to reflect what impact your actions have on the world. Education in a way not only provides a base for understanding how to do this, but it allows you to dive deep into what aspects of your identity mean and how they innately impact the world as well.
This process can be rewarding but that oftentimes requires you to be uncomfortable first. Being uncomfortable is good. It means that you are challenging yourself. It means that you are exercising humility, empathy, and thinking in a way that you have to psychologically force yourself to. What these bills and book bannings represent is a deviation from this aspect of being uncomfortable.
This point is particularly important for white America. Being scared or uncomfortable as a white person because of the color of our skin in this country is something that we do not experience. White people aren’t racially profiled by police. White people don’t experience systemic barriers on the way to success and white people don’t have to experience predatory lending at the rates people of color do. The only way we think about and experience these things is if we consciously force ourselves to and if we don’t do so as a society America’s racist history will continue to manifest itself in different ways.
These bills and book bannings show that adults in positions of power do not want the next generation to be as uncomfortable as they are. They don’t want to think that they in some way are a manifestation of racism in this country, and they don’t want to confront the reality of the American condition.
My hope is that if you are uncomfortable that you take a second to think about it and try to learn from it. Understand that the process is difficult, but don’t be passive about it either. Be an active member of society and act upon such feelings. It can be something as small as having discussions with your family and friends. If you want to do something more important, take a look through the education bills, and if your state is there, give your representative or state senator a call to express your concern with the educational climate that could be potentially created.
