DEAN ’ S CORNER
THE
JACKIE JONES
The headline for this issue of the Morgan Global Journalism Review could easily have been : And Still I Write .
PEN America , a nonprofit group that advocates for free expression in literature , released a report last fall that found more than 10,000 schools or their districts removed books from school , classrooms or curriculums last year , affecting 4,218 titles . According to the report , those bans disproportionately affected books about certain identities , including people of color , and also more often apply to certain genres , such as history . Overall , the analysis found that 36 percent of the more than 4,000 banned titles featured characters or people of color .
The PEN analysis revealed that 44 percent of banned history and biography titles featured people of color , and 26 percent featured Black people , specifically . Of the banned titles with pictures or illustrated content , 60 percent had illustrations related to race and racism or featured characters of color .
And yet , Black literature continues to thrive , despite book bans , errant political pushbacks against “ wokeness ,” and Critical Race Theory , and despite attempts to essentially erase Black history .
More than 10,000 Black authors continue to write , publish , and win recognition for their work . Last year , Percival Everett ’ s novel “ James ,” which takes on the Mark Twain classic “ Huckleberry Finn ” from the perspective of the enslaved Jim , won the National Book Award .
Additionally , W . Paul Coates , founder and publisher of Black Classic Press and BCP Digital Printing , was named recipient of the 2024 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community by the National Book Foundation , which presents the National Book Awards .
In my paraphrase of the title of Maya Angelou ’ s “ And Still I Rise ,” there is a nod to the strength of past writers , as well as a salute to kindred spirits of the present . As Sheri Booker notes in this issue of MGJR , there is a current crop of writers who “ embody the literary tradition of Black writers who grapple with oppression while forging new paths toward liberation .”
Enjoy this issue of the Morgan Global Journalism Review , and consider buying a banned book , or two . ■
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