271 - Cultural Views: A Conversation on Book Bans with Be the Bridge Team Members Jefferson and Elizabeth

This episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast is part of our Cultural Views conversations where we do a deeper dive into societal and cultural issues with the intent of exposing our listeners to opportunities for the reassessment of their own values and perspectives. Other episodes of our Cultural Views conversations include gun violence on episode 250 and white Christian nationalism in a two part episode on episode 268.

Be the Bridge team members Jefferson Jones and Elizabeth Behrens join Latasha Morrison to discuss book bans. They provide the history of book bans and worldwide examples where bans have taken place. And they share why having this conversation is critically linked to bridge building.

Latasha, Jefferson, and Elizabeth’s words will help prompt conversations in your homes, Be the Bridge groups, and communities. There are action steps for white families and is encouragement for BIPOC families. You’ll be reminded that you don’t have to have all the answers but a willingness and openness to have conversations.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode!

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios
Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:
“We have to work through the tensions of a democracy.” -Latasha Morrison

“Exposure to that information is not where harm is done. Harm is done when a child is exposed to information or harmful concepts, having no way to contextualize them, having no background information or way to make sense of it, and no comfort level asking questions.” -Elizabeth Behrens

“Trying to keep them away from things, that's only going to have them form opinions and worldviews that are not being shaped by you.” -Latasha Morrison

“Book banning is a building of borders around the imagination of people. Because many want the imagination of their children to be a offspring of what they know and not a development of what God is shaping in them or what's developing in them naturally because of the way that they are wired.” -Jefferson Jones

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Resources Mentioned:
Cultural Views White Christian Nationalism
Cultural Views Gun Violence
Ruby Bridges
The Color of Law book
Video of 100 year old Florida widow of a WWII veteran talking about book bans
The Hill We Climb book by Amanda Gorman
Stop Book Bans Toolkit from the Author’s Guild
Tell Me Who You Are book
Be the Bridge Foundations Course

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Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.