“Books bring us together. They teach us about the world and each other. The ability to read and access books is a fundamental right and a necessity for lifelong success. But books are under attack. They’re being removed from libraries and schools. Shelves have been emptied because of a small number of people and their misguided efforts toward censorship. Public advocacy campaigns like Banned Books Week are essential to helping people understand the scope of book censorship and what they can do to fight it.” – LeVar Burton

Since 1982, October brings awareness to censorship with Banned Books Week (October 4–10, 2026), which celebrates free and open access to information and draws national attention to the perils of censorship. The week brings together writers, readers, librarians, students, and teachers in support of the freedom to express ideas and opinions and the choice to read whatever you would like. The week ends on October 10 with Let Freedom Read Day, a dedicated day of direct action.

In spring 2026, the American Library Association (ALA) released data documenting attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during 2025. They found 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025, the second-highest ever documented by ALA, with 39% of the titles representing the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color. Stories from the indigenous, AANHPI, African American, and LGBTQIA+ communities are already often underrepresented in our school and history books. These stories help make up the fabric of our shared American story.

We cannot let these stories and histories be erased. Beyond honoring all American voices, representation in literature and media matters because it helps shape how people see themselves, validates their lived experiences, reduces negative stereotypes, and influences how society understands and treats them. Some of our history is difficult; some communities’ experiences can be unsettling to hear, but we need to have the uncomfortable conversations that might arise to secure a future of respect, understanding, and safety for all Americans. Erasing the history, contributions, heroes, and stories of particular groups takes us all one step backwards from equity. This is about all of us.

And at the Korematsu Institute, we firmly believe education can help create a world where racial equity, social justice, and human rights for all are the norm. How can you take action against censorship, erasure, and banned books?

• Speak up.
• Read a banned book.
• Visit your local library or bookstore and pick up a banned or censored title.
• Have conversations about and champion the ideas and literature you come across.
• Support librarians and educators coming under fire for sharing banned books.
• Attend school board meetings and PTA meetings where decisions are made.
• And vote! Be a part of that conversation. Stand up for what is right.

Learn what actions you can take for Let Freedom to Read Day: LINK

Here’s Censorship by the Numbers: Banned Books Data: LINK

Report a Banned Book: LINK