“Censorship is the most terrifying thing that can happen to a democracy,” said librarian Lara Beckwith, opening a powerful event at Arapahoe Community College’s (ACC) Littleton campus Tuesday afternoon. Alongside English professor Monica Fuglei, Beckwith hosted a screening of The ABCs of Book Banning, a 2023 Oscar-nominated short documentary that challenges the growing wave of book bans in America.
The event was part of ACC’s fourth annual book-banning awareness initiative, held in honor of Banned Books Week, which has been celebrated for over 40 years. Attendees were welcomed into the library classroom with popcorn, beverages, and boxes of candy to create a movie-theater atmosphere. English professor Susan Stafinbil, who co-organized the event, was in attendance with her colleagues.
Before the screening, Fuglei gave a brief introduction, educating attendees about Colorado’s book-banning legislation, the location of the banned books in the ACC library, and a voting board on the fourth floor. She also acknowledged the challenges librarians face in defending access to literature. Beckwith added, “Yes, hug your librarians – with their consent, of course,” reinforcing the importance of their role. “Librarians are the first line of defense against book banning.”
The 27-minute documentary, available on Paramount+, features interviews with fourth-grade children who read banned books and share their thoughts, as well as footage from a school board meeting. It has received five award nominations, including one for Best Documentary Short Film at the Oscars.
After the screening, several students shared their reactions. Guillermo Acosta-Rule said, “What really surprised me was how well-spoken those eight and nine-year-olds were, reading at a ninth-grade level.” Carter Fuglei, a relative of Professor Fuglei, expressed concern over the number of passive, apolitical books being banned, but with hope added, “This generation, and the generations after, will fight against censorship.”
Student and film enthusiast Grant Atkins found the documentary “very shocking,” noting that many banned books are later adapted into films. “As a future filmmaker/writer, it is vital to keep books from being banned to help portray an accurate account of history.” Atkins shared his thoughts on Instagram and Letterboxd under the username @moviebuffgrant_.
Beckwith closed the event with a reminder of its purpose: “We’re all passionate about this topic, and we want to make a difference.”
