(RNS) — In 2017, our nation reeled from what came to be known as the “Muslim ban.” An executive order, signed by then-President Trump, barred or limited the entry of individuals from six Muslim-majority nations into the U.S.
This included grandmothers from Iran, nurses from Libya and refugees from Syria. Protests erupted over the dangers of such a discriminatory policy, along with its ineffectiveness at protecting our borders.
As an American Muslim, I was deeply troubled by the policy and frightened for the future. But at the time, I was also bolstered by support from the children’s book industry, the space where I had been publishing stories featuring Muslim characters for over a decade. Literary agents suddenly created an open call for new Muslim writers. Authors, editors and librarian friends reached out to express dismay and solidarity.
Yet, while the travel ban was eventually rescinded, Muslims continue to be banned in another insidious way: Our stories and books are slowly being pulled from library and school shelves across the country. As reported by PEN America, NBC news and other outlets, this has included my picture book, called “Under My Hijab,” celebrating the women and girls who wear the Muslim headscarf and my novels “Amina’s Voice” and “Amina’s Song” about a girl who loves to sing.
This week, Sept. 22-28, in observance of Banned Books Week, libraries and bookstores across the country displayed long-challenged books like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “1984” and even “Captain Underpants.” Yet book banning, an ugly byproduct of the culture wars, has picked up in recent years as heavily funded campaigns have targeted “woke” children’s books and librarians. As a result, school districts and counties are removing books that focus directly or indirectly on race, antiracism and most often, LGBTQIA+ content. Recently, books related to Palestine have also been removed.
In response, organizations like We Need Diverse Books and Authors Against Book Bans are working to reverse these bans. Publishers recently sued the state of Florida, a leader in book banning, for violating the Constitution. However, this wave of banning, shadow-banning and censorship persists and often goes unnoticed.
A variety of books by author Hena Khan. (Courtesy images)
Authors like me have long argued that our stories matter and that all children deserve to see themselves represented in the literature. Previously excluded from the mainstream, marginalized authors celebrated breaking down these barriers over the past couple of decades. Our books not only fill important gaps in the literature, but they are also popular and marketable and have topped bestseller lists.
In my school presentations, I often speak about feeling invisible as a child, growing up never seeing a book with an immigrant Pakistani American family or a Muslim hero. I thought I didn’t deserve to be a protagonist that my peers would root for. Providing kids with the stories that I didn’t have has been my life’s passion, and it’s devastating to learn that they and others are now being removed and excluded in other ways due to the demands of a vocal and intolerant minority.
Book banning is harmful to all children. It sends the message that certain people’s stories are dangerous, like a warning label suggesting that they shouldn’t be consumed. For children who are already othered, bullied or harassed, this is particularly alarming. And for Muslim children, who sadly must contend with a recent spike in anti-Muslim hate speech and hate crimes, this is another way to allow prejudice, xenophobia and racism to flourish and pave the way for poor policy decisions.
Stories allow us to see the world through someone else’s point of view. They promote empathy and understanding. Muslims have a long history of being dehumanized and caricaturized in the media and entertainment industry. Our books allow us to confront and counter toxic narratives, and that is the only reason they are considered dangerous — because of the power for change and growth they hold in their pages.
Hena Khan (Photo by Havar Espedal)
Don’t let book banners restrict access to stories that fully reflect our society and, in the process, deny us all the right to read freely — not only during Banned Books Week, but year-round.
Hena Khan is the author of “We Are Big Time” and other books for kids and serves on the board of We Need Diverse Books.