To combat the continued assault on Black history and culture, and especially books by Black authors, the African American Studies Department (AFR) and the Library hosted a Banned Black Book Month Panel for Black History Month 2024.
Panelists: (l-r)
Dr. Bennett (AFR), Dr, Biswas (AFR), Dr. Banks (AFR), Dr. Richards (ENG), Prof. Abdul-Wasi (AFR), Dr. Sylvester (ENG)
Facilitator: Dr. Evangelista (AFR)
Host: Dr. Ferdinand, Department Chair (right)
We are in a climate where book bans are wielded like weapons. These threats to knowledge acquisition take many forms, but many of them have focused on removing access to Black history along with Black books. Stats from organizations like Pen America and the American Library Association highlight the disproportionate banning of content which celebrates or illuminates marginalized communities.
We solicited book titles by Black authors that have been banned in any capacity (regionally, educationally, etc.) from the City Tech Community. A selection of these submissions is now featured in the library’s display window along with catalog pages from Between the Covers Rare Books, color prints of artwork by Brooklyn native Jean-Michel Basquiat, black and white prints from Leroy Lucas’ “Growing Up Black” exhibit portfolio and photos from Peter Cohen‘s collection of snapshots and vernacular photographs.
Click here to visit the exhibit’s accompanying slideshow and here for City Tech’s online Banned Black Book Collection which features titles we have available in the library.
