CNN 5 Things
One Thing: Florida’s Book Ban Playbook: Read the Racy Parts
Oct 22, 2023
CNN journalist Elle Reeve discusses Florida's new book ban law, which has sparked controversy and activism. The podcast explores the origins of book banning in Florida and the politically charged school board elections. It also highlights the impact on teachers, librarians, and young readers. Students share their perspectives on the matter and express concerns about the focus on contentious books instead of other important issues.
17:08
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Quick takeaways
- The new law in Florida allows books to be immediately removed from school libraries if a passage is deemed offensive when read aloud at a school board meeting, which has led to over a thousand cases of book removals and controversy fueled spectacles.
- Students believe they should be allowed to form their own opinions and explore challenging themes through literature, highlighting the importance of understanding history and societal issues.
Deep dives
The Fight Over Banning Books in Florida
In Florida, a group called Moms for Liberty emerged as a response to COVID rules in public schools. Initially concerned with masking and closures, the focus shifted to the presence of pornography and objectionable ideas in school libraries. Previously, a complaint process allowed for a committee to assess a book's literary merit, but Moms for Liberty felt this was inadequate. They lobbied for a new law that allows a book to be immediately removed from libraries if a passage is deemed offensive when read aloud at a school board meeting. Critics argue that taking passages out of context can distort the true themes of the books.
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