Reading is not simply an act of empathy. Whether a historical fiction novel or a biology textbook, each book empowers the reader with worldly knowledge. As we dive into the new year of 2025, let’s talk about the most groundbreaking pieces of literature ever written – specifically how many authorities are trying to erase the eye-opening knowledge that books contain with Project 2025.
What is Project 2025?
Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda aimed at reshaping American society, includes measures that could significantly impact how literature is taught and accessed. The main centerpiece of Project 2025 is its ‘Mandate for Leadership,’ a 992-page set of policy proposals that serves as a wishlist of policies that it hopes the next elected candidate will implement in their serving term. Developed primarily by The Heritage Foundation’s staff and consultants, Project 2025’s proposals have also been endorsed by approximately 100 other conservative thinkers [1]. Project 2025 is a policy blueprint created with the main goal of reshaping federal education regarding the reading curriculum nationally. The main intention is to leverage federal power to replicate state-level educational censorships nationwide, targeting specific ideologies and content in schools and universities.
The Role of Literature in Politics
Literature is inherently political. It challenges dominant ideologies, gives voice to the marginalized, and creates spaces for dialogue and dissent. Works like Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale serve as cautionary tales, warning societies about the dangers of authoritarianism and the suppression of individual rights. Similarly, the novels 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell challenge communist ideologies and the idea of authoritarianism, forcing the readers to grapple with the realities of systemic oppression. These texts, and countless others, are not just stories—they are mirrors reflecting the struggles, aspirations, and complexities of the human condition and human policy [2].
Project 2025’s Potential Impact on Literature
While book banning has existed for decades, Project 2025’s intentions have slowly influenced recent decisions. Thousands of recent book bans have targeted LGBTQ+, gender, and social and racial inequality issues. More specifically, Project 2025 promotes LGBTQ+ content as pornography – to the point where they’ve criminalized school librarians in three states for making such content accessible [1]. If this project is further confirmed, Project 2025 could extend this nationwide.
Additionally, teachers and librarians could face intimidation or legal repercussions for including challenging texts in their curriculums. These fears of lawsuits would encourage schools to avoid representative content altogether, showing how Project 2025 inflicts fear for people’s right to freedom of expression. Authors may avoid writing about sensitive topics about politics or expression due to fear of bans, which can significantly impact the diversity of voices in literature.
The Danger of Erasing Political Voices
Censoring politically charged literature has several consequences. Proposals to remove Critical Race Theory and ‘gender ideology’ from curriculums could potentially silence educators and restrict honest discussions about race, politics, gender, and historical aspects. Project 2025’s framing of transparency and prohibitions on compelled speech would be used to restrict topics and ideas disliked by the government [1]. Additionally, Project 2025 is calling for a federal ‘Parent’s Bill of Rights’ [1]. This empowers parents to sue schools over content they find offensive, which may not end well for people who get offended and have diverse opinions about various aspects and topics. This would create an environment of educational intimidation, suppressing diverse perspectives in classrooms.
The Office of Civil Rights (the OCR) would lose its authority to investigate and resolve civil rights abuses in schools and universities, further diminishing protections against discrimination. By moving the OCR to the Department of Justice, Project 2025 would narrow the tools available for enforcing civil rights [1]. The push for a ‘sanitized’ or ‘clean’ version of history and literature would strip public education of its ability to foster critical thinking, debate, and diverse perspectives. These efforts to suppress political ideas in education will stifle voices advocating for equity and social justice.
Call to Action
Now more than ever, it is crucial to defend the political voices of literature. Educators, librarians, writers, and readers must unite to resist policies that threaten to silence dissenting perspectives. Advocating for intellectual freedom and pushing back against censorship efforts are essential steps in preserving the role of literature as a force for truth and change. We must also empower the next generation to question, analyze, and engage with challenging ideas. This means ensuring that students have access to diverse texts that reflect a wide range of experiences and viewpoints. Only by doing so can we uphold the democratic ideals that literature has long carried. The battle for the soul of literature is, at its core, a battle for the soul of our society. Let us ensure that its political voices are not erased but amplified, for the benefit of generations to come.
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