Harry Potter Censorship In Schools

The banning of the Harry Potter Book Series In America Censorship in schools across the United States has been a controversial topic for decades. The debate surrounding the censorship of specific books, such as the Harry Potter series, has gained significant attention since the novel was released. The banning of the Harry Potter book series in American schools not only limits students’ freedom of expression and use of imagination, but also denies students the opportunity to explore complex themes and values within literature. Book banning is the act of prohibiting or banning certain types of books, in-turn, suppressing the ideas and information in those books. Book banning has been around for hundreds of years, but has become more common and

One of the more well-known groups actively challenging and banning books is known as Moms for Liberty, who started in Florida, but have spread across the country in the last 3 years. Moms for Liberty have gone to “school board meetings and rallies to protest mask and vaccine mandates, materials in books and curricula related to race and LGBTQ rights, and critical race theory, among other issues” (Chavez). While censorship in schools appears throughout the United States, there are regions where it is more common, such as Texas, Virginia, and Florida (Gilligan). Some of the most challenged and banned books in America are The Bluest Eye, The Hate You Give, and the Harry Potter series. While both the books The Hate You Give, and The Bluest Eye all discuss more controversial, real-life topics, the Harry Potter book series’ main controversial topic is magic. These instances of book banning highlight the broader issue of censorship and the potential negative impact it can have on intellectual freedom and the dissemination of ideas because books that were written for the pure enjoyment of the readers, that deal with childhood-like topics, are even being challenged and removed from