Book Bans: What Can One Person Do?

Book banning is driven by the impulse that ideas are dangerous. Yes, ideas can be dangerous and even scary because they are powerful and can evoke real change in the world. But censorship is not the solution. The remedy for bad ideas is good ideas. The way to deal with fear is knowledge and truth. The answer to hopelessness is new perspectives. And that is the ultimate role of art: to open our eyes and provide a crucible for change.

On June 8th, Arts for Global Change will come together at the Glen Ridge Women's Club to support Unite Against Book Bans, an organization that fights for these ideals. The passages featured in our program come from important books which have been banned in some places in the United States like Huckleberry Finn, Fahrenheit 451, and The Handmaid's Tale.

Often, issues at a huge scale like book banning can seem insurmountable and overwhelming. It seems impossible to make a difference. But the question we should be asking is not what one person can do. It's how we can come together and create the momentum with our talents, passion, and motivation to create real difference in the world.