Khaled Hosseini Slams Book Bans in the US
Author Khaled Hosseini criticizes book bans in the US, particularly in Florida, as a betrayal of students' education rights.
Hosseini's Criticism of Book Bans
Khaled Hosseini, one of the world's top authors, has expressed his disappointment with book bans in Florida and throughout the US. He believes that these bans not only fail to protect students but also betray them in terms of their right to a good education.
According to a report by PEN America, there were approximately 5,894 book bans in US public schools from July 2021 to June 2023, with over 40% occurring in Florida. PEN highlighted that the books targeted for banning often belong to authors who are female, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+ individuals.
Comparing Book Bans to Authoritarian Regimes
In an interview with The Guardian, Hosseini compared the trend of book bans in the US to the rise of authoritarian regimes in 1930s Europe. He expressed his concern about the increasing literary censorship and stated that he thought such events belonged to the past. Hosseini emphasized the importance of democratic societies exposing students to diverse ideas and allowing them to think critically, as well as encouraging them to learn from people who are different from them.
Hosseini firmly believes that books serve as a conduit for this kind of exposure and understanding.
Hosseini's Efforts to Prevent Book Bans
Recently, a school board in Brevard County, Florida, considered banning Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner. However, after receiving a heartfelt letter from the author, the board voted to keep the book on its shelves. The Kite Runner, which delves into themes of friendship, betrayal, and familial tension against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan, spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
Nevertheless, The Kite Runner and many other books remain under review or challenged by school boards across the US. The future of these books in school curricula depends on the decisions made by district selection committees.
