Do you want restricted books? Here’s where to find them for free in the Miami-area
A local bookshop is hosting a giveaway and reading of books that have been restricted in a Miami-Dade County school library. Among the works is “The Hill We Climb” by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman.
Founder of Books & Books Mitch Kaplan told the Miami New Times that the event is a response to the four titles that a committee at the K-8 Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes said were more suitable for middle school students, not elementary students.
The books were not banned, but were moved to an area only accessible to middle school students.
Gorman recited “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s 2020 inauguration.
Miami-Dade is one of the many counties in Florida confronting issues of censorship in schools as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act. It’s among other controversial laws, including a ban on drag shows, that came out of the legislative session.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade K-8 bars elementary students from 4 library titles following parent complaint
Tuesday’s event will be at the Sanctuary for Banned Books inside the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd, at 6 p.m. (June 6). It’s free and open to the public.
Miami-Dade County’s Poet Laureate and former President Barack Obama’s inaugural poet Richard Blanco will read Gorman’s poem at the event.
Books & Books will give away 1,200 copies of “The Hill We Climb,” “The ABC’s of Black History” by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer, and “Love to Langston” by Tony Medina and R. Gregory Christie — which were also among the disputed materials.
