The Switch Up — Books take political center stage

The hallways of public schools have become a newfound political battleground this year. 

Across the nation and all the way up to the halls of Congress, political leaders are investing more and more energy in determining school curriculum – and books have become a new target. 

During the 2021-2022 school year, more than 1,600 books were banned from school libraries, affecting 138 school districts in 32 states, according to a report from PEN America. 

For many, such bans are dangerous. For others, it’s a way to protect students. On this episode of The Switch Up, we talked with Kimberlé Crenshaw, George M. Johnson and Tiffany D. Jackson — all authors whose books have been banned —and the impact censorship can have on our democracy. 

The Switch Up podcast series — hosted by The Hill’s Cheyanne M. Daniels — explores the intersection of race and politics through intimate conversations with leading scholars, advocates and legislators from communities of color. Follow The Switch Up on Spotify.