MahoganyBooks Banned Black Books

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. The week highlights the value of free and open access to information.

According to the ALA, between January 1 and August 31, 2023, there were “695 attempts to censor library materials and services and documented challenges to 1,915 unique titles – a 20% increase from the same reporting period in 2022, which saw the highest number of book challenges since ALA began compiling the data more than 20 years ago. The vast majority of challenges were to books written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and express all ideas. Banned Books Week 2023 will be held from October 1-7, 2023. The theme of this year’s event is “Let Freedom Read”! MahoganyBooks is highlighting several banned titles by Black authors as they specially specialize in books written for, by, or about people do the African Diaspora whose books are often overlooked.

“Many literary works are banned from school libraries under the guise they are teaching critical race theory. However, most banned books don’t teach critical race theory but are written by and about people of color. Censorship makes books more inaccessible to marginalized groups, especially youth of color. They need the positive self-reflection and representation to find community support, validation, and even inspiration,” said Derrick and Ramunda Young, founders and owners of MahoganyBooks.  

MahoganyBooks aims to promote reading, writing, and cultural awareness as tools to improve self-esteem, self-love, and, ultimately, our communities. Learn more about Banned Black Books at www.bannedblackbooks.com.

Help us show the ongoing need for telling OUR own stories without limitations or conditions. Get our newest and most popular T-shirt, and let folks know that Black voices, Black history and #blackbooksmatter!

MahoganyBooks Banned Black Book Resources

Here are some of our featured Banned Black Books below.


MahoganyBooks Banned Black Books

Each of the books appearing above are books that are specially mentioned in the ALA’s national tracking of banned or challenged books. Click on any book in the gallery to learn more about that title.
Looking for more Banned Black Books? Check out this our full list of banned black books here.

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