EDUCATION + AFRICAN AMERICANS
The Fight Against Book Bans Takes A Turn
Ta’ Nehisi Coates quietly steps into the battle
Ta’Nehisi Coates, the celebrated writer and journalist, recently traveled to South Carolina to enter the cultural wars being waged by conservatives all over the country regarding books about African American history and culture. (Full disclosure: Coates and I have been good friends for 25–30 years). Coates came to the state to support high school AP Language teacher Mary Wood. I was very impressed by my friend’s actions.
I sent him a note when I found out:
“Good show Bruh,” I texted.
He gave it a heart emoji. The respect was all his.
Solidarity
Coates sat beside Ms. Wood in a school district meeting where she is a teacher. Parents from the district also came to the forum and spoke up for Ms. Wood. They expressed their support for Ms. Wood and all teachers. They felt that it was time to answer the hysterical nonsense. Everyone does not agree with banning books. I suspect a lot of people are in favor of free speech and thought in education.
Wood and other teachers around the country are in the crosshairs of the current attempts by conservative governors and…
