Pat Conroy Literary Center to discuss Beaufort Co. book challenges. Here’s how to weigh in

Mary Dimitrov

The Pat Conroy Literary Center is hosting a free Book Challenges Forum open to the public Sunday, which comes on the heels of a controversy over the recent removal of nearly 100 Beaufort County school library books.

Conroy, an award-winning author best known for his novel “The Prince of Tides,” is recognized as a staple in South Carolina’s literary scene. Before delving into his life as an author, Conroy taught English and psychology at his alma mater, Beaufort High School. Conroy died in 2016 in his beloved Beaufort County.

In October, 97 books were pulled from the shelves of Beaufort County schools. Already planning to hold a spring 2023 forum, the Center, in reaction to the books’ removal, moved up its event.

Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy

“Pat had very strong feelings about book bans and censorship,” said Jonathan Haupt, the Center’s executive director. “This is part of his legacy.”

Conroy himself was no stranger to book challenges.

As a Beaufort High School student in 1962, parents put on trial “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, Haupt said. In Conroy’s book “My Reading Life,” he dissects how his teacher defended the book against the school board.

“Then, of course, years later, he experienced challenges against his own books for issues of language and violence,” Haupt said, referencing a letter Conroy wrote in response to those who put his books up for debate.

A photo of Pat Conroy erasing a chalkboard that appears in the 1969 Beaufortonian, the yearbook for Beaufort High School.
A photo of Pat Conroy erasing a chalkboard that appears in the 1969 Beaufortonian, the yearbook for Beaufort High School.

Now, as review committees parse through the 97 books, the Center that bears the literary legend’s name is starting up a discussion with the help of four panelists.

“[It’s] a chance for folks to have a dialogue and learn about the larger issues at play,” Haupt said. “And really make a stance for themselves as to what they believe that public education can and should be in our community.”

The Center’s Sunday event will take place at the Technical College of the Lowcountry’s MacLean Hall from 2 to 3:30 p.m. While it won’t be livestreamed, a recording of the video will be available on the Center’s YouTube channel afterward.

Haupt noted that this book forum will not be the Center’s last, rather it will be an ongoing dialogue.

“We, the Center, have a responsibility and an opportunity to continue to be a part of that,” the executive director said.

Here are the panelists

  • South Carolina Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth

  • South Carolina ACLU legal fellow and legislative advocate Josh Malkin

  • Community education advocate, consultant and nonprofit leader AJ Davis

  • Journalist Paul Bowers

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