Defend the Right to Read and Learn

Right now in Mississippi there’s a coordinated attack to diminish the power and importance of diversity, restrict Mississippians’ ability to self-educate, and deny residents access to literature and resources that reflect the identities and experiences of marginalized groups.

Whether it’s outright banning literature that discusses race and sexuality like Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” or gender identity like George M. Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue” from school libraries, our state legislators are denying Mississippians of all ages one of our most crucial freedoms: the right to read and learn. 

Here are a selection of resources to help you defend your right to read and learn. 

 

Fight For Your Rights

Access our Parents Against School Censorship Toolkit and advocacy letter!

Take the Pledge

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Educate yourself on classroom censorship and effective tactics to defend the right to read and learn.

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For All Podcast Episode 8: The Truths and Myths of Critical Race Theory

What is Critical Race Theory? Who is learning it? And what have politicians been getting wrong about it? Hear from Chauncey Spears, Education Policy Analyst for the Mississippi Center for Justice.

Listen now


Pop Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Classroom Censorship?

This year, the country has seen a staggering number of policies censoring classroom discussions around topics like race, sex, and gender identity. Coupled with these efforts are bans on books that also center around these subjects — bans which hinder students’ ability to learn and talk about these critical topics that impact their daily lives.

In order to protect our right to learn, we must recognize that these policies hinder people’s understanding of their country’s history, the world and communities around them, and themselves. We must also celebrate the literary works that take on these topics. 

Test Your Knowledge


Blog: How to Start a Banned Book Club

Ella Scott, student and co-founder of her high school’s Banned Book Club, tells us what inspired her to take action and shares advice on how to combat book bans in your own school.

Read Ella's Story


Right to Learn: Your Guide to Combatting Classroom Censorship

Here is a comprehensive ACLU toolkit to help you fight against censorship in your schools and communities. These resources are designed for further understanding of who passes laws that affect your education and how you can take action to protect your right to learn. Explore to learn more about how you can reach out and get your demands heard.

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For your convenience, view a version of this toolkit as a PDF below.