EDUCATION
Why Scholastic Book Fair is Changing Course on Diversity
They will not segregate titles they offer, even upon request
The Scholastic Book Fair has thrown down the gauntlet in the national censorship debate. Okay, so they didn't actually drop a medieval glove on the ground or call for a duel, but they are challenging the conservative censorship crusade. In a letter, the educational company expressed its intention to refuse any requests to segregate books they offer in elementary and middle school book fairs. Scholastic's announcement came on the heels of criticism after announcing its Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice collection, consisting of diverse titles and stories written by Black authors and those belonging to other marginalized groups. While some opposed the collection at face value, others accused the educational company of creating a separate but equal policy that segregated their catalog. They feared schools could opt out of this collection, making it easier to deprive students of access to these titles. However, Scholastic's letter clears the air: "The biggest misconception is that Scholastic Book Fairs is putting all diverse titles into one optional case. This is not true, in any school, in any location we serve."
For the past few years, conservatives have taken part in a widespread censorship campaign, snatching over a thousand book titles off the shelves, almost always targeting those written by Black authors or those belonging to other racial, ethnic, or gender-marginalized groups. This cloud of censorship is the context under which Scholastic published this letter embracing diversity and intellectual liberty and condemning efforts to segregate public school curricula. This is major news for educators, considering some textbook manufacturers have already caved into conservative demands, whitewashing content and removing essential context per their request. Far too often, conservative parents and politicians treat American history like an a la carte menu, where they can reveal whatever facts and figures they like and ignore the rest. Imagine the audacity of them ordering history textbooks and asking the publishers to remove any facts that make White people feel uncomfortable.
Last spring, one book publisher altered a story about Rosa Parks, removing any reference to the racial tension that shaped her experience. Jim Crow laws segregated Americans by race, forcing Black people to sit on the back of trolleys, busses, and trams. In Cultured, I remarked, "Pretending the bus driver randomly asked Rosa Parks to move to another seat ignores the role of racism, codified into America's laws and policies, which necessitated the civil rights movement." Such an omission, particularly when paired with numerous other examples, robs students of the facts necessary to understand American history. Nevertheless, the book publisher made the changes Florida's Board of Education requested, creating whitewashed books for their students. In more states than not, conservatives have successfully passed legislation to limit discussions about racism. Sadly, book publishers have not universally condemned their efforts and feel they are in a tough position, between a rock and a hard place. Scholastic taking a stand against censorship is an essential step in a country that has been slowly but surely giving in to the demands of white nationalists who want to exclude Black people's history and narratives.
Is their effort legal? Scholastic made the argument that despite legislation "prohibiting certain kinds of books from being in schools — mostly LGBTQIA+ titles and books that engage with the presence of racism in our country," book fairs give students the opportunity to buy books on their own, which is not the same as them being included in the curriculum, or offered as public educational resources. This is a rare instance when the private market is an asset towards restoring justice. The Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice collection will feature additional diverse titles at book fairs nationwide, even in states like Texas and Florida, which passed legislation prohibiting teachers from discussing these topics. However, Scholastic made it clear that this collection is not the only place such titles will appear in their catalog and that no school or district can opt out of offering these titles.
By refusing to back down on diversity, it's safe to say Scholastic is making some conservative foes. Pearl-clutching "parental rights' groups" like Moms For Liberty have spent years advocating for censorship legislation to pass state-wide in the hopes that they could hide black history and diverse experiences, and they're likely to take issue with Scholastic finding a loophole, a way of bringing diversity into the classroom, despite these bans. However, the cost of saying nothing or complying with their demands by cherry-picking books and topics is greater. Scholastic is taking a stand for the sake of diversity, which is admirable, considering the blowback they’ll surely receive.
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