There has been a major uptick in the amount of books that have been banned from schools in the past year. According to the American Library Association, 2022 had the highest number of attempted book bans in 20 years. Black books have been targets for censorship for years, but the current wave of book banning is coming from the discussion concerning Critical Race Theory. If you’re unfamiliar, Critical Race Theory is the notion that racism is a systemic and societal problem. But our words, our history, our place in this world, and our wisdom will not be banned. To bring more awareness and not allow these necessary books to be hidden, consider this list of banned Black books to empower the next generation and arm them with knowledge. 

“The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah Jones

“The 1619 Project” is a collection of essays by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones. In the book, Jones depicts the hidden history and consequences of American slavery. It’s been a controversial book because some feel it’s aim is to bring “culture wars” to the classrooms.

Related Articles:
10 Black Children’s Book Authors to Read (Right Now!)
10 Books That Inspire Multifaceted Black Excellence
Educate the Babies: Juneteenth Books to Empower

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison has multiple books that have been banned and the “Bluest Eye” is just one on the list. The critically acclaimed author is known for writing authentic narratives about the Black experience. This book has already been banned in multiple states since it’s original debut.  It centers an 11-year-old Black girl who is slowly driven insane by societal and sexual abuse.

“This is My America” by Kim Johnson

This young adult fiction novel follows its teenaged protagonist Tracy as she races against the clock to get an appeal for her father on death row. There’s also a murder that may or may not involve her brother. It’s a tense thrill ride that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. 

“Black Birds in the Sky” by Brandy Colbert

This book centers around the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. It was one of the most brutal and inhumane acts of violence in American history. Brandy Colbert recounts the harrowing story and the lasting legacy of the massacre in this young adult nonfiction novel.

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

This Toni Morrison book follows Sethe, a former slave who has a traumatic and haunting past. The book chronicles her life from pre-Civil War days up until her time as a free but heavily scarred woman.

“All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson

This book has been described as a “memoir-manifesto” written by activist George M. Johnson. The book is written as a series of essays depicting the queer Black experience. It was also considered the most banned book of the 2021-2022 school year.

“Black Looks: Race and Representation” by Bell Hooks

This nonfiction book focuses on 12 personal essays by Bell Hooks. All of them explore alternative ways to look at Blackness and how Black people are represented in literature, music, and television.

“The Hate You Give” by Angie Thomas

You may have seen or heard of the movie adaptation of Angie Thomas’ book starring Amandla Seinberg. It was a box office success and a New York Times bestseller, but now it’s been banned in multiple schools for its depiction of racism and anti-police views. It follows sixteen-year-old Starr and the aftermath of the tragic shooting of her childhood friend.

“All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

One single violent event sends two teens, one black and one white, into a world of turmoil. This book discusses police brutality, and its effects on a community as well as the victims and bystanders. 

“The Invisible Man” by Ralph Elison

This classic novel was written in 1952 and depicts the story of a college-educated Black man struggling to find his identity. Its themes of finding yourself and navigating a society full of cultural blindness hold up to this day.