When the American Library Association revealed its plans on a crisp September morning, many were surprised—and inspired—to learn that 88‑year‑old George Takei would lead this year’s Banned Books Week as honorary chair.
For Takei, the cause is deeply personal. He grew up starved for stories—first in a U.S. government camp behind barbed wire, then in silence as a closeted gay man trying to understand who he was. He remembers that lack of access not as a distant memory, but as a lingering hunger. “Please stand with me in opposing censorship,” he implored, “so that we all can find ourselves — and each other — in books.” American Library Association
From October 5 through 11, across libraries and bookstores nationwide, the shelves will spotlight titles that have been challenged or banned—books like Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.
Takei shares the spotlight with Iris Mogul, a first‑year student at UC Santa Cruz who has already been active in fighting book bans.
Past honorary chairs include figures like Ava DuVernay, LeVar Burton, and Jason Reynolds.
If you’d like, I can also help you track local events for Banned Books Week, suggest a reading list of challenged books, or provide links to join the movement.
(Based on reporting from the American Library Association and the Associated Press via the news article “George Takei to lead Banned Books Week, urging the fight against censorship.”) AP