A Conversation on Censorship (Episode 72)

This week’s discussion on the pod was about censorship. The conversation was spurred by the ever-growing list of books being banned in our children’s schools. Young learners are being denied access to important works of art and the critical discussions that follow. Being able to think critically about ideas, history, social and cultural issues is the bedrock of a functioning citizenry so what does all this censorship mean? What will it cost us in the future?

Censorship is a product of authoritarian rule. The burning of books, the tightening of internet access, and the management and curation of a particular message about a country are all behaviors we expect to see in other places, and not the U.S. Yet, censorship is alive and well here today, and it is especially virulent when it comes to racism and sexism. We have talked alot about the power brokers, the ones for whom our systems work without question. In most cases, it is these same folks who are making decisions about what is and is not “age appropriate” for young people in schools.

We discuss the far reaching consequences of withholding information from young people. The question we ponder is whether this omission is tantamount to a lie being fed to young people by parents and political leaders who subconsciously try to maintain their power and the status quo. As we continuously grapple with how to make endurance sport more inclusive, we should remember the children deprived of a deeper understanding of U.S. history and the legacy of white supremacy are the athletes we train with and coach. Many of us have been deprived of forums where we can learn to think critically and engage about an issue. This lack of training can lead us to being scared of topics like racism. When we are repeatedly told not to talk about it and ignore it, it is no wonder white people struggle so. We don’t touch a hot plate because we learned it will burn us. It is the same with discussions of racism, sexism and homophobia. Don’t touch them because they will leave a mark. Are school boards and white parents across the country deciding their kids are not smart enough or resilient enough to understand the legacy of racism? Or is it that they are fine with racism leaving a mark on Black and brown kids, but not on white ones.

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