People Are Having Mixed Reactions To Pink Distributing 2,000 Banned Books In Florida
Pink was 100% serious when she told us she's "still a rock star" with her "rock moves."
The 44-year-old singer is distributing 2,000 free copies of "banned books" during her Trustfall tour stops in Miami and Sunrise, Florida, and nothing will stop her.
The three-time Grammy award winner is teaming up with PEN America, a national free speech group, to give away four titles, including Toni Morrison's Beloved, Todd Parr's The Family Book, Stacia Deutsch's Girls Who Code, and the poem recited by poet Amanda Gorman at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration in January 2021, The Hill We Climb.
The "Just Give Me a Reason" singer announced the collaboration on Instagram Live with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel and Amanda Gorman — and the partnership garnered a lot of mixed reactions.
"Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that's why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools," Pink said in a statement released by PEN America.
"It's especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country, and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books."
“I’m a voracious reader, and I’m a mom of two kids who are also voracious readers,” Pink added. “And I can’t imagine my own parents telling me what my kids can and cannot read, let alone someone else’s parents, let alone someone else that doesn’t even have children that are deciding what my children can read.”
Before we proceed, we should understand that a book ban doesn't mean books are entirely erased from existence. It simply means they've been challenged or are inaccessible to children in certain school districts.
PEN America defines a school book ban "as any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished."
According to PEN America, 3,362 book bans, including 1,557 titles, were recorded in US public schools in the 2022–23 school year. Florida school districts account for more than 40% of those book-ban cases, thanks to laws implemented by the state's current administration.
The expansion of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's Parental Rights in Education Act has received backlash for related mandates that challenge a long list of books to be removed from various Florida school districts.
NBC Miami reported that 300 books were removed from school libraries in Florida last year. Of "Florida's 67 counties, 21 removed books in the 2022–23 year."
Pink's advocacy to provide some of these books has received considerable backlash from conservatives who challenge the list's accuracy or people's interpretation of the definition of "banned book."
Yet, despite the criticism for this charitable move, Pink is standing on business and has continually fired back with responses of her own:
When one X user claimed she might be breaking the law, Pink cheekily responded, "Let's look into it! Let me know! You know where I'll be!"
After another X user made severe allegations about her character and claimed "they're 100% sure she probably can't read," she responded, "You all really need to get some new talking points. This one is pretty played out. You're 100% sure I PROBABLY can't read?"
And to everyone hurling unrelated insults at her over social media, Pink suggested everyone read banned books, writing, "You know you've hit a sore spot in a weak mind when their only argument is 'She's ugly! 'She's fat!' or 'She's irrelevant.'"
You know you’ve hit a sore spot in a weak mind when their only argument is “she’s ugly!” “She’s fat!”. “She’s irrelevant” READ BANNED BOOKS! GO TO @PENAMERICA TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN STOP THE BANS AND THE NONSENSE
— P!nk (@Pink) November 13, 2023
The noise of the naysayers isn't enough to silence the "So What" singer and her fans. In fact, Pink has received a lot of praise for this bold move to distribute free copies of "banned books." Here's what they're saying:
what’s a word stronger than mother?
— alfonso🪽 (@ctrlalfonso) November 14, 2023
i wish all celebrities were as progressive as p!nk, she is mother
— poppy 🦋 (@imnotpopbase) November 14, 2023
By addressing issues of race, LGBTQ perspectives, and censorship, she raises awareness about the importance of freedom of expression and access to varied viewpoints. Whether one supports this idea may depend on their stance on these issues and the role they believe artists should… https://t.co/p8aMixdDD0
— Tahir Chaudhary (@3MTS_) November 13, 2023
PINK is awesome! And this is another reason why. Like I always say... There still are some pretty great people in this world‼️
— Esta (@TheOnlyEsta) November 13, 2023
The fact that these books are banned in the first place is abhorrent! The fact that Pink has taken a very public stance, and is fighting back on these extreme views, is inspiring!#stopbookbans #booklovers
— Ramon Caudle (@UrbanistaRamon) November 14, 2023
Pink is fantastic. Love people who actively work to fight against book bans!
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) November 13, 2023
Team pink. Read banned books. There’s a reason they don’t want you to read them.
— jho (@jaquelinehogreb) November 13, 2023
Taylor and Pink are wonderful and they help us relate these important issues to young people. We’re lucky to have them on our side.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) November 14, 2023
Thank you for all you're doing. People with your type of influence will save this country
— WTFGOP (@DogginTrump) November 15, 2023
Finally, in her latest response to the backlash, Pink wrote on X (formally known as Twitter), "Very happy to have started this discussion about censorship and book banning. Will be giving out more books tonight."
"I will continue to stay on this topic whilst the conservatives can only talk about me personally since they have very little else to discuss. Onwards and upwards people! Have a beautiful, free-thinking day! I Read banned books!"
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, this moment is one for the books!