Texas is going down a dark path of censorship.

In the guise of "protecting children", Texas District 93 Representative Matt Krause has compiled one of the most comprehensive book ban lists in our country's history. The list contains books important for students adjusting to the world they live in, from important books discussing rights that citizens of our country have, to books containing LGBT characters and characters of color, to books ironically about the dangers of banning books.

As a concerned former student of Southside, I ask you to ask the district to ensure that as long as this list is not legally binding, that the district resist this dangerous form of censorship. Students in schools should have the right to a safe space where they can read within reason whatever they choose to, especially if they are in a vulnerable place in their life. 

Those in support of this book ban list often parrot the same talking points; that our children are being brainwashed by nebulous forces such as "Critical Race Theory" or "The Gay Agenda". However, the acknowledgement of racism or of LGBT+ people is not part of some evil agenda, it's part of the world that we now live in. Together, we can all ensure that the next generation of excellent students can be better citizens in a better world.