Ugh more censorship
March 21, 2024 7:46 PM Subscribe
Books on Black history, immigration found in trash by Staten Island school, sparking investigation. Gothamist obtained photos from a Brooklyn book lover that showed boxes of kids’ books left with the garbage at PS 55, known as the Henry Boehm School. Some had sticky notes on them detailing themes and content in the books, which appeared to be part of a 2019 initiative to diversify school materials. The city education department launched an investigation after Gothamist shared the images (Jessica Gould for Gothamist)
Holly Spiegel, of East Flatbush, alerted Gothamist to the controversy. Her neighbor, who was working near the school in November, retrieved hundreds of the books from the trash and gave them to Spiegel, knowing she could use them for the free “Little Libraries” she manages around their neighborhood. Spiegel then got in touch with the school and made two additional trips where she recovered hundreds more books in boxes marked “not approved.”
Sticky notes on the books pointed to apparent reasons why they were censored. A note on “Julian Is A Mermaid,” about a boy who dresses as a mermaid, read “Boy questions gender.” A post-it on “Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story,” cited a specific page, along with the question “white man’s world?”
Publishers Issue Letter to NYC DOE Over Discarded Books: In response, a coalition of publishers whose books were discarded teamed with Authors Against Book Bans to pen a letter to New York City's DOE over the report about the book removal, stating, "If true, such action amounts to unlawful censorship and violates authors' and students' First Amendment rights."
Holly Spiegel, of East Flatbush, alerted Gothamist to the controversy. Her neighbor, who was working near the school in November, retrieved hundreds of the books from the trash and gave them to Spiegel, knowing she could use them for the free “Little Libraries” she manages around their neighborhood. Spiegel then got in touch with the school and made two additional trips where she recovered hundreds more books in boxes marked “not approved.”
Sticky notes on the books pointed to apparent reasons why they were censored. A note on “Julian Is A Mermaid,” about a boy who dresses as a mermaid, read “Boy questions gender.” A post-it on “Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story,” cited a specific page, along with the question “white man’s world?”
Publishers Issue Letter to NYC DOE Over Discarded Books: In response, a coalition of publishers whose books were discarded teamed with Authors Against Book Bans to pen a letter to New York City's DOE over the report about the book removal, stating, "If true, such action amounts to unlawful censorship and violates authors' and students' First Amendment rights."
Even books about.. legendary singer and activist Nina Simone were discarded.Staten Island Goddam(n).
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:51 PM on March 21 [21 favorites]
They should publish photos of the sticky notes on a website and ask whether anyone recognizes the handwriting and has examples to compare.
posted by jamjam at 11:28 PM on March 21 [12 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 11:28 PM on March 21 [12 favorites]
Nina Simone was a fierce voice against white supremacy and she spoke out loudly and without softening her words.
I'm not surprised that she'd be in the racists' list of people-to-be-erased-from-history.
posted by Zumbador at 2:47 AM on March 22 [14 favorites]
I'm not surprised that she'd be in the racists' list of people-to-be-erased-from-history.
posted by Zumbador at 2:47 AM on March 22 [14 favorites]
jamjam: that's a great idea, but unfortunately the style is endemic among ladies of a certain age, so you'd get false positives
posted by Countess Elena at 6:17 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 6:17 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]
A note on “The Derby Daredevils,” about a girls’ roller derby team, read “Not approved. Discusses dad being transgender. Teenage girls having a crush on another girl in class.”
Not surprising that Staten Island is encroaching on Nassau County's turf.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:58 AM on March 22
Not surprising that Staten Island is encroaching on Nassau County's turf.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:58 AM on March 22
Eltingville is such a segregated area, I’m completely unsurprised.
posted by corb at 8:45 AM on March 22
posted by corb at 8:45 AM on March 22
oh Staten Island (my birthplace)
NK Jemisin was right
posted by supermedusa at 10:24 AM on March 22 [4 favorites]
NK Jemisin was right
posted by supermedusa at 10:24 AM on March 22 [4 favorites]
Mod note: One comment removed. Please avoid using 'Karen' as a hateful slur, per the Content Policy, thank you.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 8:10 AM on March 23 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 8:10 AM on March 23 [2 favorites]
WHY do people seem to not realize, censorship is one of the most UN-American things there is???
posted by Goofyy at 5:19 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by Goofyy at 5:19 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
WHY do people seem to not realize, censorship is one of the most UN-American things there is???
Kathy Griffin performed in our town last night and she attracted a bunch of "patriots" who blew lomotive horns, raced engines, waved Trump flags, shouted foul-mouthed slogans etc., apparently in an attempt to drown her out. They were still mad, apparently, at her decision to show the fake-blood-covered mask of Trump in 2017. Which again made me wonder why these people, who insist on their right to curse, shout and scream in the name of speech, can make sense of their desire to censor an artist.
posted by etaoin at 3:12 PM on March 25
Kathy Griffin performed in our town last night and she attracted a bunch of "patriots" who blew lomotive horns, raced engines, waved Trump flags, shouted foul-mouthed slogans etc., apparently in an attempt to drown her out. They were still mad, apparently, at her decision to show the fake-blood-covered mask of Trump in 2017. Which again made me wonder why these people, who insist on their right to curse, shout and scream in the name of speech, can make sense of their desire to censor an artist.
posted by etaoin at 3:12 PM on March 25
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posted by non canadian guy at 7:54 PM on March 21 [36 favorites]