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How You Can Fight Censorship: Resources for Parents

An introduction from mother and community activist Keiawnna Pitts and resources for parents in the fight against book bans.

How You Can Fight Censorship: Resources for Parents

This resource is a part of a collection about combating book bans. See more of what we’re doing and learn how you can help here.

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Keiawnna Pitts is a community activist and mother of four. She is a member of various community organizations in Round Rock, TX. She served on the Round Rock ISD Equity Task Force, Anti-Racist Coming Together, and Engage Round Rock. Keiawnna spends her time making community connections and advocating as a parent of Black students. She is in leadership for the parent group at her children’s schools as well as the orchestra booster club Treasurer. Keiawnna is a Williamson and Travis County Voter Deputy Registrar.

I am a daughter, sister, wife, mom, community activist, and now book ban activist as well. Before I became a parent, I never felt compelled to fight book bans. There was always a new book added to the list and I figured somebody else would fight it. It wasn’t until I began to pay close attention to the works that were being banned and how they go hand-in-hand with the recent Texas classroom censorship law (SB3) that caused me serious concern.  

This round of bans caught my attention because it seemed to ban Black existence. My daughter started a book club with her friend because they loved to read and wanted to read books with Black characters and experiences they could relate to. I was appalled to learn that some of the very same authors that the book club had been reading were on the list to be banned. Then to learn that the books were being banned because they were thought to make white children feel shame just wasn’t fair. What about all of the Black children like my daughter and her book club that were looking for and finding representation in these books? Do they not matter?  

I am the Chief Community Connector in Round Rock Black Parents, a community engagement and empowerment network that unifies, mobilizes, and uplifts Black parents, students, educators, and stakeholders. When we learned that a teacher in our district started a petition to stop Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi from being removed from schools, it was easy to mobilize quickly to help. We had connections and relationships we could call on to speak to the need for diverse literature in schools. 

I believe a huge part to our success in stopping the book challenge was the collaboration between the local community groups that were already working and learning together to build a more anti-racist community. Black, Latine, Asian, South Asian, LGBTQIA+, and white people – the WHOLE community – came together to speak truth to power about halting the further whitewashing of American history and the need for diverse literature. 

I encourage everyone to build community NOW, have hard conversations NOW. The time to take a stand is NOW. 

—Keiawnna Pitts 

Keiawnna Pitts shared the following resources that have been useful in her fight against censorship: 


Here are some additional resources we recommend. Follow the prompts for inspiration: 


“I Want To Learn More About the Issue”


“I’m Want To Get Involved From Home and Support Organizations” 

“I Want To Support My LGBTQ+ Child” 

  • Learn more about common arguments made by would-be censors and techniques for advocating for LGBTQ+ stories in your schools and communities

“I Want To Attend School Board Meetings and Be a Voice for Free Expression in My Community” 

  • Learn about the candidates and vote
  • Attend a school board meeting and be prepared to talk about banned books
  • Use Book Resumes – resources to justify keeping frequently challenged titles on shelves 

“I’ll Do Anything I Can To Help”