Banned Book Week encourages the fight against literary censorship

LatinaLista — What do the books “Bless Me, Ultima,” “The Golden Compass,” “The Kite Runner,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows,” “Beloved” and the series “Gossip Girl” have in common?
They are just a few of the hundreds of titles that have been banned by schools and school districts across the country.

Each blue marker indicates where a book has been banned. Check out the actual Banned Books Map to see which towns banned which titles and exactly for what reasons.
This week, from Sept. 26-Oct. 3, is Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 513 books reported to have been banned in 2008. However, the ALA claims the total is always larger because 70-80 percent of school districts that ban books never report them.
What gets a book banned, you might ask?
The usual reasons: sexually explicit, mention of homosexuality, excessive violence, offensive language, a particular religious or political viewpoint — the list of reasons is endless.
Basically, it boils down to if a particular person or group is offended by a particular book then cries for it to be removed from school and library shelves is the usual routine.
When that happens, regardless of how parents and educators justify the removal, it’s a form of censorship.
So, in honor of Banned Books week, why not pick up and read a banned book?