I see myself and the books give me hope

By Marian Wright Edelman

Amanda Gorman, the eloquent 25-year-old Harvard graduate who was our nation’s first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, recently became one of the latest authors to have her work banned after a Florida parent petitioned to have “The Hill We Climb,” the book version of the poem Gorman read at President Biden’s inauguration, removed from the elementary school section of a Miami-Dade County public school library.

The parent, who incorrectly attributed the book to Oprah Winfrey, said in her complaint the poem “is not educational and have indirectly [sic] hate messages.” The parent also wrote she believed its function was to “cause confusion and indoctrinate students.”

In response, Gorman posted a statement saying she was “gutted” by the book’s removal: “Book bans aren’t new. But they have been on the rise— according to the [American Library Association], 40 percent more books were challenged in 2022 compared to 2021.

“What’s more, often all it takes to remove these works from our libraries and schools is a single objection. And let’s be clear: Most of the forbidden works are by authors who have struggled for generations to get on bookshelves. The majority of these censored works are by queer and nonWhite voices.”

She continued: “I wrote ’The Hill We Climb’ so that all young people could see themselves in a historical moment. Ever since, I’ve received countless letters and videos from children inspired by ’The Hill We Climb’ to write their own poems. Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech.”

Florida has made many recent headlines for these kinds of bans, and the current climate of hostility towards diversity and inclusion under governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has just led the NAACP to warn against travel to the state. But none of us can be complacent about the growing numbers of book restrictions in school districts and states across the country.

These include those proposed by uninformed parents who suspect any book written by a Black author or portraying Black history or culture is likely a “hate”-filled threat to their own children’s worldview. The Children’s Defense Fund has long championed the opposite belief.

Hundreds of college-aged servant leaders are preparing right now for training to teach at CDF Freedom Schools summer programs for children in grades K-12 at sites across the country. These programs are centered around the CDF Freedom Schools’ researchbased Integrated Reading Curriculum featuring high quality books reflecting a wide variety of cultures, races, and experiences.

More than 70 percent of Minneapolis College students are members of Indigenous communities or communities of color, or are international, low-income, or firstgeneration students. Serving these students—helping them achieve academic success—is essential to reducing economic and racial disparities and to meeting Minnesota’s need for diverse talent. With opportunities and resources, these students will go on to become leaders and change-makers in our communities.

Minnesota State Stabilization funding helps us address inflationary challenges and fulfill our mission of providing an affordable pathway to the transformative power of education. Key provisions freeze tuition for the biennium and help us address students’ basic needs with resources and services. The North Star Promise provides eligible students up to 100 percent funding for tu- ition and fees.

To succeed in college, many small pieces must come together. Even students who excel in their coursework can have their education derailed by unexpected life challenges. This new funding will help students overcome these challenges and succeed.

Minnesota State Stabilization funding helps us address inflationary challenges and fulfill our mission of providing an affordable pathway to the transformative power of education.

“It’s difficult to understand what it’s like to need support until you’re in the position of need,” says Christian King, a chemistry student at Minneapolis College who has relied on food supports at the college when unable to pay largerthan-expected bills. “I under- stand on a very personal level what it’s like to be in crisis.”

Minnesota’s economic vitality depends on skilled workers like Christian. After graduating from Minneapolis College in 2024 he plans to pursue his bachelor’s degree and continue on the path to becoming a veterinarian. This legislation positions Minneapolis College and the other colleges and universities of Minnesota State to respond to the critical needs of students like Christian, promoting equitable student success.

The bonding bill funds the renovation of our Management Education Center, creating a state-of-the-art business school building for Minneapolis College and Metro State University. This space will educate, connect, and inspire Minnesota’s next generation of business leaders, giving them the tools that they need to succeed in a changing world.

Everything we do is focused on providing students with an opportunity to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. By recognizing the importance of investing in higher education this session, the legislature has demonstrated its commitment to the future prosperity and well-being of our state. We at Minneapolis College are grateful.

Sharon Pierce is the president of Minneapolis College.