Tennessee School Districts Enforce Broad Manga Bans Under HB 843 Legislation

The Ongoing Battle Against Banned Manga in Tennessee

Tennessee has become a recent battleground in the debate over the content of literature in educational spaces. Following the enactment of new laws that aim to restrict access to what is deemed inappropriate or offensive material, a significant number of manga titles have been banned across school districts in the state. This move aligns with broader efforts to regulate educational content across various regions in the United States.

Understanding Tennessee's HB 843

Tennessee's HB 843 plays a central role in determining which books can remain accessible in school libraries. The law stipulates that all school library books must be appropriate for the age and maturity levels of students, banning those that depict or describe nudity, sexual conduct, excessive violence, or other "patently offensive" content. This legislation affects students from kindergarten through 12th grade and is seen by some as an avenue for enforcing stringent content controls that might lead to excessive censorship.

Impact on Popular Manga Series

In the wake of HB 843, over 150 books have been earmarked for removal in Tennessee's schools pending further investigation. Among the most affected are manga favorites like Assassination Classroom and Fire Force. Rutherford County has mandated these titles be temporarily or permanently taken off the shelves while a thorough review is conducted.

The ban list from Wilson County school district is even more extensive, including entire series such as Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Inuyasha, Hunter x Hunter, and Black Butler, along with many others. This reflects a broader trend towards regulating graphic novels and manga that are favored by young audiences but sometimes contain mature themes.

The Consequences for Librarians and Schools

The enforcement of these book bans has had a disruptive effect on the day-to-day operations of school librarians. Elizabeth Shepherd, a librarian in the Rutherford County area, described an environment where quick adaptations are necessary, compelling librarians to prioritize book removal over traditional responsibilities like assisting students with research and checking out books. In her words, the process of physically removing books from shelves and even from the hands of students is "literally heartbreaking."

The schools' response to these legislative changes often involves self-censorship to avoid potential legal conflicts, as they look to other schools for guidance on what they should ban, even without a rigorous review.

A Broader Legislative Trend

Tennessee is not alone in its book-banning efforts. Similar laws have been enacted in several other states, including Florida, Iowa, and Utah. In Utah, for example, if three districts classify a book as offensive, it can be banned across the state—a standard that some argue is an extreme approach to controlling access to literature.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee is closely monitoring these developments and is considering possible legal challenges to the law’s implementation. The 10,000 instances of book bans recorded during the 2023-2024 school year show a dramatic increase from the previous year, signaling an urgent legal issue at play.

The Way Forward

This wave of manga bans in Tennessee reflects wider cultural and legal debates about the appropriateness of content in educational settings. As schools navigate these regulations, and as organizations prepare potential legal challenges, the outcome of this discourse will likely influence future policies on book availability in schools not only in Tennessee but across the nation.

The ongoing conversation around these book bans also highlights the necessity of balancing age-appropriate content with the freedom to explore diverse narratives and complex themes. As dialogues between educators, legal experts, and community members continue, a more nuanced approach may emerge in dealing with the complex interplay between cultural expression and educational responsibility.