Another year, another attempt to ban books
Before we continue, I want to ask an honest question: is George Johnson’s book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” pornographic?
All Boys Aren't Blue is a memoir-manifesto by George M. Johnson, published in 2020, that powerfully explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years as a queer Black boy growing up in New Jersey and Virginia. The book delves into themes of identity, masculinity, family, friendship, love, and community, providing an honest look at the experiences of Black queer youth. Structured as personal essays covering topics from bullying and grappling with gender identity to the importance of family and storytelling, All Boys Aren’t Blue is celebrated for its vulnerability, candidness, and empathy in addressing complex issues. The book has been praised for contributing to discussions around race, gender, and sexuality in the Black community and is used to foster understanding and support for LGBTQ+ youth. All Boys Aren’t Blue offers a voice to marginalised experiences and encourages open, inclusive conversations about identity and belonging.
But Moms for Liberty wants it banned
A recent article has the following headline, “Moms for Liberty wants funds cut to Alabama libraries that let kids check out ‘pornographic material.’” It talks specifically about Johnson’s book as “pornographic.”
Legally, the definition of pornography in the US often hinges on ‘community standards’ and the intent behind the material. For example, in many jurisdictions, material is considered pornographic if it meets certain criteria, such as:
Appeal to the Prurient Interest: The material arouses or appeals to sexual desires.
Offensiveness: The material is offensive to community standards regarding what is acceptable for sexual content.
Lack of Artistic, Literary, Political, or Scientific Value: The material lacks serious artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.
How could All Boys Aren’t Blue possibly fit even one of these criteria?
As the article notes, Moms for Liberty, a far-right political action group, sent a letter asking the Alabama legislature and public library service to withhold funds from libraries that allow minors to check out “pornographic” materials. Moms for Liberty is a reactionary group that sits outside the mainstream in the United States. They have taken an extreme stance on accessing library materials, pressuring state institutions in Alabama and elsewhere to restrict funding based on their own strict moral views.
Specifically, Moms for Liberty lobbied political leaders in Alabama to cut budgets for any public library allowing children to borrow books the group deems inappropriate. They labelled certain young adult novels and memoirs as “pornographic” without nuance, refusing to acknowledge that no library actually stocks actual pornography in their children’s sections. Their letter signals an attempt to impose moral policing on library collections and operations, dictating what books should and should not be available to minors.
By campaigning for financial consequences directed at public libraries, Moms for Liberty hope to force censorship aligned with their ideology. However, their position represents an extreme minority voice in the US, far removed from mainstream society which values intellectual freedom and opposes banning books. Their letter prompted pushback from library advocacy organisations defending neutral, sensible access policies that empower parents without restricting materials for older children. Though Moms for Liberty may have loud voices, most recognise public libraries require balanced oversight, not reactionary restrictions driven by partisan agendas.