A writer from Saskatoon is still in shock after discovering that his debut non-fiction book has been prohibited by the U.S. Department of Defence for educational use in its schools.
Khodi Dill’s book, “Stay Up: racism, resistance, and reclaiming Black freedom,” targets young adults as a guide to anti-racism theory. Released in autumn 2023, the book draws from Dill’s upbringing as a Black youth on the Prairies to illuminate the workings of white supremacy in North America and to help readers grasp the impact of racism on their lives.
Recently, Dill received news from one of his editors at Annick Press, Khary, informing him that his book would not be available to students in 161 schools under the U.S. Department of Defence.
Dill’s work is among the 596 books banned by the department, revealed in a public list by a federal judge overseeing the case of E.K. v. the Department of Defence. This legal action involves twelve students from Department of Defence schools suing the department for removing references to race and gender from their educational materials.
According to the court document released in April, the students affected span from pre-kindergarten to high school, studying in the U.S. and internationally.
Dill expressed his concern that many of the banned books center around themes like racism and gender equity, suggesting that such ideas may pose a threat to the current U.S. administration.
Despite some Saskatoon educators utilizing his book in classrooms, Dill observed a stricter vetting process in eastern regions, particularly regarding the usage of sensitive language such as the N-word in his book. He defended its inclusion as crucial for authentic representation and criticized the trend of banning such language, which he believes erases Black experiences.
Meanwhile, Arlene Stein, a sociology professor at Rutgers University, shared her experiences of having her books flagged for potential bans by local authorities, emphasizing the importance of access to diverse knowledge, including works like Dill’s.
Kasey Meehan, from PEN America, highlighted the increasing trend of book bans targeting themes of race and diversity, attributing the pressure to government policies restricting discussions on such topics. This trend not only affects the literary community but also impels authors to navigate a landscape of self-censorship in response to the chilling effect of censorship initiatives.
The broader implications of these book bans extend beyond schools and libraries, impacting the creative freedom and diversity of perspectives within the literary world.