Scholastic Authors Share Concerns Over Recanted Censorship Attempt – CBR – Comic Book Resources
Scholastic authors are sharing concerns over the publisher's recently recanted censorship attempt.
According to Publishers Weekly, author Maggie Tokuda-Hall was asked by Scholastic to cut the words "virulent racism" from her new book, Love in the Library, after the publisher offered to license her book for a Scholastics Rising Voices Library collection of books called "Amplifying AANHPI." The book, published in 2022 by Candlewick Press and illustrated by Yas Imamura, tells of how Tokuda-Hall's Japanese American grandparents met one another and fell in love while imprisoned in a camp in Idaho during World War II.
RELATED: Anne Frank Graphic Novel Banned From Florida High School for Being Inappropriate
Love in the Library ends with an afterword by Tokuda-Hall where she explains some of the historical context surrounding the story and how its themes relate to ongoing issues in America. [My grandparents] improbable joy does not excuse virulent racism, nor does it minimize the pain, the trauma, and the deaths that resulted from it," Tokuda-Hall wrote. "But it is to situate it into the deeply American tradition of racism."
An editor for Scholastics Rising Voices Library told Tokuda-Hall, "We love this book! And we want everyone in the schools we serve to read it. However, our audience is comprised of elementary school-aged children and there are some details in the Authors Note that, although eloquently stated, are too strongly worded for what most teachers would expect to share with their students. This could lead to teachers declining to use the book, which would be a shame. To that end we are requesting make an adjustment to the Authors Note. Our suggested change is attached."
On April 11, 2023, Tokuda-Hall wrote a blog post, "Scholastic, and a Faustian Bargain," explaining the situation and why she ultimately rejected the publisher's censorship proposal. She wrote, "For a moment I wondered if there was a way to edit it so we could agree on it? But then I looked at the proposed edit, the one my offer was contingent upon again. The removal of the word RACISM made it all too clear. There was no compromise to be had here. There was no way to work with this. It was a Faustian Bargain, and I couldnt take it.
RELATED: Assassination Classroom Has Been Banned in Florida and Wisconsin Schools
"...Every time I see a marginalized creator tell the truth about what they face, I feel this way: frustrated. Furious. Disheartened. But also less alone. Each incident reminds me that we are braver than they are, even if its only because we have to be. And that the more of us who do this, the more likely there may come a day when we can stop doing this. I cant imagine what that looks like, and most days I cant believe that day will ever come. I also cant imagine not at least trying to get there."
On April 16, 2023, author Kelly Yang posted a video on Twitter supporting Tokuda-Hall and asking the publisher to take a stand against matters such as censorship and book bans. "As one of your top authors, I'm asking you to have more courage," she said. "You can not be quietly self-censoring. Whatever pressure you may be facing, know that your authors are facing even more pressure and yet we're still out here writing these books, risking our lives, bleeding to make you millions [and] trying to write the books for the next generation that will hopefully improve the world -- stories that reflect our times, books that don't sugarcoat reality or gloss over history."
On April 14, 2023, Scholastic President and CEO Peter Warwick put out a public apology regarding the proposed censorship. "Love in the Library is a beautiful and important book, and we all agree that it would be a tremendous addition to this classroom library collection," Warwick said. "However, in our initial outreach we suggested edits to Ms. Tokuda-Halls authors note. This approach was wrong and not in keeping with Scholastics values. We dont want to diminish or in any way minimize the racism that tragically persists against Asian-Americans."
RELATED: A Record Number of Library Book Censorship Demands Were Made in 2022
According to Warwick, Scholastic has reached out to Candlewick, apologized to all the creators involved with Love in the Library and now "hope" to restart conversations around including the unchanged book in the Amplifying AANHPI collection.
"We also met today with the collection's mentors (authors and educators from the AANHPI communities) to apologize for our actions in seeking to change the authors note, to hear their most recent thoughts, and to answer their questions and concerns," Warwick continued. "It was a moving and instructive experience for us. We had not consulted them on such an important issue as this, we had therefore put at risk their trust in us and caused personal anguish and harm. We must never do this again. We will be reviewing our curating and publishing processes to ensure that all our decisions and actions are consistent with our Credo, which unequivocally states our belief in the value of every individual, as well as the importance of representation, accuracy, and diverse voices in the stories, information, and teaching materials we share with educators, families, and communities."
Source: Publishers Weekly, Scholastic, Pretty Ok Maggie, Twitter
Continue reading here:
Scholastic Authors Share Concerns Over Recanted Censorship Attempt - CBR - Comic Book Resources
- Sharyn Rothstein looks at censorship through the eyes of a badass librarian - DC Theater Arts - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- The dangers of censorship: The harm of book banning - Collegiate Times - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Can Controversy and Censorship Ever Be Good for Artists and Their Art? - observer.com - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Why is X suing the Indian govt over censorship? Musks heft within US administration could play a part - The Straits Times - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Explained: What is the Sahyog Portal that X has called out for censorship? - MediaNama - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Censorship and the question of artistic freedom - Times of India - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Art Censorship: Between Restriction and Sharpening Idea of Freedom of Expression - Universitas Gadjah Mada - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- Mass surveillance and censorship/ What is DPI, intended for use by the government? - cna.al - April 1st, 2025 [April 1st, 2025]
- The Freckled Face of Censorship or How Book Bans Are Restricting Our Freedoms - U.S. News & World Report - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Spice Girls latest victims of woke censorship as iconic '90s song has 'offensive' lyric removed by BBC and other stations - GB News - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- MEDIA ADVISORY: HFAC Subcommittee Hearing on the Censorship-Industrial Complex - House Foreign Affairs Committee - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Censorship - RiverBender.com - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Hawley Exposes Big Tech as Willing Collaborators in Censorship: They Own It - Josh Hawley - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Scientists Respond to FTC Inquiry into Tech Censorship - R Street - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Venice Title Pooja, Sir: Rajagunj Released in Nepal After Extensive Censorship Battle: An Attack on the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech... - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- 'Assault on the 1st Amendment': Expert buries Trumps 'censorship' argument in 60 seconds - AlterNet - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Billboard Chris fined, threatened with arrest in Brisbane days ahead of ultimate court challenge against government online censorship - ADF... - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Exclusive - Laughter Chefs 2's Rahul Vaidya on current scenario of comedy in India and Samay Raina; says - The Times of India - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Banned books of Alabama. These 25 face censorship in local libraries throughout AL - Montgomery Advertiser - March 26th, 2025 [March 26th, 2025]
- Beauty and the Beast: New book sparks censorship row in France - BBC.com - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Opinion: The day free speech began to retreat - The Globe and Mail - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- CT library meeting on censoring LGBTQ+ content canceled after large crowd shows up - Hartford Courant - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Local leaders in Suffield accused of censorship following proposed library policy - Eyewitness News 3 - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- USAID Coordinated With Censorship Agency, Documents Show - Daily Signal - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- The EU wants to censor the global internet - Spiked - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Federal Governments Growing Banned Words List Is Chilling Act of Censorship - PEN America - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- United States of Censorship - Marist College The Circle - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- America First Legal Exposes Censorship Scheme by USAID and Global Engagement Center, Working With UK Government and Media Firms, to Use AI Censorship... - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Liberal Documentarians Panic as Industry Goes Trump-Friendly, but Conservatives Say Theyre Getting a Taste of Censorship and Its Satisfying - Variety - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- OPINION | Censoring 'No Other Land' won't make the issue go away - The Jewish News of Northern California - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Miami Beach mayors censorship of No Other Land is yet another authoritarian move to shield Israel - Mondoweiss - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Elon Musks X sues union government over alleged censorship and IT Act violations - The Hindu - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Cartoonist accuses French Education Ministry of censorship for canceling his 'Beauty and the Beast' - Le Monde - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- What are anti-censorship features and how is Proton VPN leading the way? - Tom's Guide - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Local opinion: Banning bones and books - Arizona Daily Star - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Coalition led by PEN Florida lobbies in Tallahassee to undo the harms of censorship - PEN America - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Beauty and the Beast comic book cancelled in France's 'worst ever censorship case' as 'inappropriate' Belle depicted as dark-skinned Mediterranean... - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Former Meta director says Mark Zuckerberg worked hand in glove with Beijing to build a censorship tool - Fortune - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- RI Voices: Censorship harms those we should be trying to protect - The Boston Globe - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Opinion | Think Twice Before Using These Words - The New York Times - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- World Day Against Cyber Censorship: RSF Collateral Freedom project restores access to BBC News in countries where it is blocked - Reporters sans... - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- FCC To Investigate Alleged Faith-Based Discrimination at YouTube TV as It Ramps Up War on the Censorship Cartel - The New York Sun - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- DW defies censorship with innovative solutions - DW - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Florida Coalition to Speak Out March 11 in Support of Freedom to Learn Act to Reverse Harmful Censorship in Public Schools - PEN America - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Mark Zuckerberg Offered China Full Censorship Control And User Data Access, Says Meta Whistleblower: 'Working Hand In Glove With The Chinese Communist... - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Censorship at heart of FST's 'Bad Books' - Yoursun.com - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Interview: Tackling Censorship and Artistic Freedom - Everything Theatre - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Censorship and Australias Venice Biennale pavilion, a controversial AI auction, and Elizabeth Catlett in Washingtonpodcast - Art Newspaper - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Trumps censorship Czar orders NPR and PBS investigation - MR Online - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Meta Is All About Free SpeechExcept They Built a Censorship Tool for China - VICE - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Huntington Beach residents will vote on book censorship, library control in June - LAist - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Trump Calls On Congress To Pass The Take It Down ActSo He Can Censor His Critics - EFF - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Turning the Page on Literary Censorship in the US - SUNY The New Paltz Oracle - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Escalating violent conflict in eastern DRC: journalists and HRDs targeted; censorship and internet cuts - Civicus - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- This World Book Day, lets fight for the freedom to read - Index on Censorship - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- RI 'Freedom to Read' bill would protect librarians from censorship prosecution. What to know. - The Providence Journal - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- NCAC Expressed Deep Concern Over DOEs Recent Dear Colleague Letter on Race and Teaching Practices - Blogging Censorship - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- The ACLU of Delaware urging colleges across the state to reject Trumps censorship policy - WMDT - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- French University to Fund American Scientists Who Fear Trump Censorship - 404 Media - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- How nationwide book banning, censorship are impacting students and libraries across the country - The Panther Newspaper - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Increased TikTok Censorship Under the Trump Administration? - The Pioneer - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Ormond Beach citizens push back against 'censorship' of mayor, commissioners work to put issue to rest - Palm Coast Observer and Ormond Beach Observer - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Journalisms Resistance: Reporting Beyond Censorship - Word In Black - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Solo Leveling's Censorship Is Quickly Becoming a Massive Problem for the Anime - CBR - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Jim Jordan Demands Alphabet Hand Over Docs Citing Evidence That Youtube 'Coerced And Colluded' With Biden Admin - LatinTimes - March 7th, 2025 [March 7th, 2025]
- Sandeep Reddy Vanga reacts to criticism on violence in his films: 'The censor officer told me not to worr - TOI Etimes - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Baroness Bertin's porn review: 'This isn't me driving a tank onto the lawn of censorship' - PoliticsHome - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Freedom forgone: The concerning rise of censorship in Israel - comment - The Jerusalem Post - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Jerry Moore: The Gulf of Censorship - NNY360 - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- House Judiciary Committee subpoenas Alphabet, Meta, other tech giants over 'foreign censorship' of speech - CNBC - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Hunter Biden, Covid, and censorship? Fired reporter Catherine Herridges explosive CBS revelations: Atta - The Times of India - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- 'Craven. He's Fearful of Trump': Marty Baron Slams Jeff Bezos' Censorship of Post Opinion Section - Zeteo - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- 'Free speech is dying!' British nationals told they could be BANNED or DEPORTED from US amid censorship row - GB News - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Seven things to know about the student press - Poynter - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Child protection or censorship? The legal battle between the Court of Justice of the EU and Hungary - Euronews - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Matt Taibbi: The Collapse of the Censorship Regime - Reason - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Community Group and Huntington Beach Residents Sue City Over Library Censorship - ACLU of Southern California - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Book Bans in Schools Sweep Across Reading Levels, Genres and Topics, While Censorship Erases Stories about People of Color and LGBTQ Topics Most Often... - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- House Judiciary Committee subpoenas tech platforms over foreign censorship of Americans - Washington Times - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- MAGA on a writing spree to protect tech from censorship - EURACTIV - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]