Recent Gazette articles and opinion pieces about book bannings and libraries brought back memories. In 1974, I served as the founding director of a community and university library in Reiger Park, Boksburg, Republic of South Africa. Our library served students of color from kindergarten through university. We advocated freedom to learn. White educational leaders said "train them for their place in our society and don't overeducate them, as it only brings frustration."

 They opposed real learning and thinking for everyone, especially the 90% of South Africans who were “non-white.” The government established systematic book banning for thought control. The Publications Control Board issued a list of banned books weekly. Librarians were required to remove listed books from their shelves under penalty of criminal charges. The board was staffed by undereducated, seemingly illiterate and racist, white Afrikaners. Police officers searched libraries. Leaders of the South African Library Association supported book bannings and burning. Even "Black Beauty" was banned.

Book banning supported the development of the government’s apartheid policies, segregating people by arbitrary categories (Colored, Indian/Asian, Black, White). Soon, your “race” determined where you could go and what you could do. Are we to go down the same path? It’s a slippery slope. I support the bill co-sponsored by state Sen. Jo Comerford and others called “An Act Regarding Free Expression.” I agree with the courageous Monument Mountain Regional High School students. Freedom to vote, read and speak are core principles in America. We must protect them whether its “Gender Queer” or “MeinKampf.”

Jay Kilbourn

Northampton