Powerful Forward

In the book True Stories of Censorship Battles in America’s Libraries,  author Ellen Hopkins wrote the forward about her own encounters with censorship and her opinion about the subject.

Ellen Hopkins is a New York Times best seller for her young adult books about addiction, suicide, rape and childhood sexual abuse. Ellen receives hundreds of letters (one of which she includes as part of the forward) from readers thanking her for saying their lives. Ellen writes, “They thank me for letting them know they’re not alone, they’re not crazy, they are okay.” 

Her books have been challenged, removed from library shelves, and she has been uninvited to several speaking events. Often times the people making these decisions haven’t even read her books. They skim several pages or use Internet rating sites to determine that her books are inappropriate for young adults.  

In response to these acts of censorship, this is what Ellen had to say:

“No book is right for every reader. So fine. Don’t read my books if they offend you or you hate poetry or need a fairy-tale ending. If you don’t want your own children to read them, tell them they can’t (and see what happens). But don’t make that decision without reading them first. Don’t scan for offenses. Read in context. You might decide the messages they carry are positive, if strong. You might even find a way to open communication with your kids. Words can’t damage them. But ignorance surely can.”

Ellen has written a poem, Manifesto, which is often included as part of displays during Banned Book Week. Check out Ellen Hopkins' website.

Here is her poem, Manifesto, which she also includes as part of the forward to True Stories of Censorship Battles in America’s Libraries:

Manifesto

To you zealots and bigots and false

patriots who live in fear of discourse.

You screamers and banners and burners

who would force books

off shelves in your brand name

of greater good.

You say you’re afraid for children,

innocents ripe for corruption

by perversion or sorcery on the page.

But sticks and stones do break

bones, and ignorance is no armor.

You do not speak for me,

and will not deny my kids magic

in favor of miracles.

You say you’re afraid for America,

the red, white and blue corroded

by terrorists, socialists, the sexually

confused. But we are a vast quilt

of patchwork cultures and multi-gendered

identities. You cannot speak for those

whose ancestors braved

different seas.

You say you’re afraid for God,

the living word eroded by Muhammed

and Darwin and Magdalene.

But the omnipotent sculptor of heaven

and earth designed intelligence.

Surely you dare not speak

for the father, who opens

his arms to all.

A word to the unwise.

Torch every book.

Char every page.

Burn every word to ash.

Ideas are incombustible.

And therein lies your real fear.

--- Ellen Hopkins