Tennessee Schools Ban Manga Titles Amid New Obscenity Laws
Tennessee schools remove popular manga titles like Attack on Titan and Assassination Classroom under updated obscenity laws. Discover the debate on censorship and education.
Tennessee Schools Ban Manga Following State Law Changes
Schools in Tennessee are taking popular manga titles off their library shelves after updates to the state’s obscenity laws. This decision has sparked debates on censorship, educational freedom, and age-appropriate content in school curriculums.
The Controversy: New State Obscenity Standards
On July 1, 2024, Tennessee’s legislature updated the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022, broadening definitions of “obscene” or inappropriate content for school libraries. The revised law prohibits materials depicting nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excessive violence, or sadomasochistic abuse. According to the act, content that appeals to a “prurient interest” is also disallowed, targeting materials deemed overly focused on sexual or explicit themes.
In light of these changes, two Tennessee school districts, Rutherford County Schools and Wilson County Schools, have removed hundreds of manga and other books from their libraries, citing the updated obscenity standards.
Popular Manga Titles Under Fire
Rutherford County Schools discarded 150 titles in November 2024. The purge, initiated by board member Frances Rosales, flagged materials for review under the new law. Titles including Assassination Classroom by Yūsei Matsui and Fire Force by Atsushi Ōkubo are still being evaluated, with decisions expected soon.
Board member Caleb Tidwell claimed the flagged books violated the district’s policies, describing some as containing “pornographic material.” His February 2024 list, which included 35 books not part of the school curriculum but available in libraries, initiated a district-wide review. Schools now have 60 days to decide whether to reintroduce or permanently ban these titles.
In October 2024, Wilson County Schools, another district in Tennessee, pulled more than 400 titles from their libraries. The banned list includes fan favorites like Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Tokyo Ghoul, The Promised Neverland, and Blue Exorcist. Even literary adaptations like The Tempest Manga Shakespeare and classics like Akira were not spared.
Censorship Beyond Tennessee
The removal of manga isn’t limited to Tennessee. Due to content concerns, North Carolina schools recently pulled copies of Unico: Awakening from Scholastic Book Fairs. South Carolina removed the Assassination Classroom after allegations of promoting violence and animal abuse.
Florida and Wisconsin have also seen similar actions. In Florida, the boys-love manga Sasaki and Miyano was banned in August 2023 due to its depiction of sexual orientation. Meanwhile, Utah banned 13 books statewide in response to complaints over explicit or pornographic material.
National Debate on Literature and Educational Freedom
The wave of book removals raises questions about censorship, academic freedom, and how schools determine what content is appropriate for young readers. Critics argue that the focus on manga and other creative works restricts cultural diversity and limits exposure to various perspectives.
Supporters of the bans contend that the measures protect children from inappropriate material. However, balancing these protections with intellectual freedom remains a contentious issue, leaving school boards nationwide grappling with how to navigate the fine line between oversight and censorship.
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