Judy Blume has expressed concern about intolerance in the United States following the removal of some of her titles from school libraries.
Concerns have led to the removal of certain books from school libraries in the United States due to their complicated treatment of sex, ethnicity, and gender identity.
One of Blume’s novels was recently removed from a Florida school district’s curriculum.
Blume stated on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that book banning “has become politicized… it’s worse than the 1980s.”
When asked if she was concerned about intolerance in the United States, she responded,
“Certainly, intolerance towards everything, including gender, sexuality, and racism.
“We have reached a moment when we must once again fight back; we must get up and fight.”
According to recent data provided by The Washington Post, Blume’s novels have been translated into 32 languages and sold more than 90 million copies.
In May, Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, and Kathy Bates will appear in a film adaptation of the author’s 1970 novel Are You There, God?, It’s Me Margaret.
The novel follows a young girl as she explores her religious and sexual identities and tackles puberty-related adolescent problems.
The book received several literary honors and has remained popular among young females, but it has also been the subject of controversy, both at the time of its publication and more since, due to the frank manner in which it tackles sexuality and religion.
Blume told Kuenssberg when asked about book censorship,
“I honestly thought that was passed, I thought we had gotten through that, you know, not in every manner, but I never anticipated us to be back where we were in the 1980s and worse.”
“I lived through the 1980s, when book banning was at its peak, and it was dreadful. Yet, when libraries and schools began to implement procedures, the impulse to control books decreased.
“Now it is back, and it is far worse than it was in the 1980s – this is in the United States. Since the issue has turned politicized.
She said,
“There are legislators attempting to pass legislation prohibiting girls from discussing their periods in school or amongst themselves; I just read about one last week in my home state of Florida.”
This month, the Florida Senate introduced a law that might restrict the discussion of menstruation before sixth grade.
Blume stated,
“I mean, that is wild, that is so crazy.” “It is so terrifying that I believe the only solution is for us to speak up and continue to speak up, or we will lose our path.”
Also, Blume was asked what she thought of Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal to limit school discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Last Monday, Florida’s education commissioner, Manny Diaz Jr., tweeted:
“Kids should spend their time in school learning essential academic topics, not being forced to consume radical gender and sexual ideology.”
Blume criticized “awful politicians who are drunk on power, who want to get out there, and I have no idea what they’re trying to prove”
She said,
“I mean, there’s a group of mothers who claim they want to protect their children. Protect them from what? You know, from talking about things? From knowing about things?
“But even if they don’t allow kids to read, their bodies will continue to change, as will their feelings about their bodies. And you cannot influence that. They must be able to read and pose questions.”
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