Texas County’s NEW Book Ban Stuns Everyone!

In a shocking move that has left advocates of free speech and anti-censorship organizations stunned, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court, located near Houston, Texas, recently mandated the reclassification of a children’s nonfiction book, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, as fiction. This decision has raised significant concerns among free speech advocates about the broader implications of local governments altering historical narratives to suit political agendas.

Written by Wampanoag historian Linda Coombs, the book presents an Indigenous perspective on colonization, offering readers a factual recount of the Wampanoag tribe’s experiences. The book had long been recognized by the Library of Congress and Texas library systems as a nonfiction account. Yet, the Montgomery County Court’s decision to label it as fiction suggests a deeper, more troubling trend in the ongoing culture wars targeting literature across the country. “If government officials can arbitrarily dismiss a well-researched, factual account of history as fiction because it challenges a dominant narrative, then what other truths will they try to silence?” questioned advocates from the Texas Freedom to Read Project in a statement.

The decision to reclassify the book appears to stem from a broader right-wing push to control content in public libraries. Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Court instituted a policy change that allowed politically motivated groups to influence which books were suitable for public consumption. One of the most alarming aspects of this case is that the decision to reclassify Colonization and the Wampanoag Story was made behind closed doors by the newly established Montgomery County “Citizens Review Committee.” Formed in response to pressure from far-right activists, the committee does not allow for public attendance at its meetings, and its decisions, such as the reclassification of Coombs’ book, cannot be appealed.

This reclassification is not an isolated incident but part of a larger movement targeting books and materials that challenge conservative narratives. Advocates argue that the current wave of censorship sweeping across Texas and other states is not driven by concerned parents but by well-funded political action committees with deep ties to far-right billionaires. These efforts often operate under the guise of “saving children” from “inappropriate” material, yet the materials most frequently targeted feature perspectives on race, gender, and identity that do not align with conservative viewpoints.

“Characterizing censorship efforts as being about ‘parents’ rights’ is deliberately misleading,” the Texas Freedom to Read Project notes, highlighting how these actions suppress the rights of other families and individuals who value diversity in literature. While parents have every right to guide their own children’s reading choices, no one has the right to dictate those choices for an entire community.

The decision in Montgomery County sends a chilling message about the future of intellectual freedom. The book’s reclassification as fiction is not just an act of silencing an Indigenous perspective; it also sets a precedent for how any viewpoint that runs counter to a political narrative can be dismissed. “This decision is viewpoint discrimination, and the implications extend far beyond a single book,” the group asserted. They warn that this could open the door to further reclassification of books on politics, religion, science, and other subjects deemed controversial by those in power.

The wave of book bans and reclassifications seen in Texas and across the U.S. reflects a broader trend of restricting access to ideas that challenge the status quo. Public libraries, which have long served as a cornerstone of democracy, offering access to information and ideas, are now on the frontlines of a battle against disinformation and suppression. As public libraries continue to face scrutiny, decisions like the one in Montgomery County threaten to undermine the very foundation upon which they are built: the free exchange of knowledge.

Advocates are calling for citizens to take action. They urge individuals to support candidates who defend intellectual freedom, particularly in local elections, where decisions about school boards and library policies are often made. “A healthy democracy relies on a well-informed citizenry,” they emphasized. Ensuring that libraries remain free from political interference is vital to preserving that democracy.

The Texas Freedom to Read Project encourages everyone concerned about censorship to make their voices heard at local meetings and to strengthen anti-censorship groups. The stakes are high, and the need to protect intellectual freedom has never been more urgent.

This battle in Montgomery County serves as a stark reminder that what may seem like a small, local decision could have far-reaching consequences. As the Texas Freedom to Read Project warns, if such decisions go unchecked, it may only be a matter of time before other historical truths are similarly labeled as fiction, further eroding the public’s access to diverse viewpoints. The fight against censorship in Texas, and indeed across the nation, continues.