News from Civsy, based on generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data searchIn 2022, Beaufort County, South Carolina, became a battleground for intellectual freedom when 97 books—many addressing LGBTQ+, racial, and gender themes—were abruptly removed from school libraries15. Three high school students, Isabella Troy Brazoban, Elizabeth Foster, and Millie Bennett, transformed this act of censorship into a catalyst for youth-led activism. Their efforts, spanning local advocacy to national coalitions, not only reversed 91 bans but also inspired the award-winning documentary Banned Together and redefined student engagement in democratic processes147.
The 2022 Book Ban Crisis
In fall 2022, Beaufort County School District libraries faced challenges from community members citing concerns over “inappropriate content.” Titles like Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes, Juno Dawson’s This Book Is Gay, and Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist were removed pending review15. The bans mirrored a national trend: groups like Moms for Liberty, initially formed during COVID-19 protests, pivoted to targeting literature representing marginalized voices14. For students in Beaufort, the removals struck a personal chord, particularly in a district where half the population lives in poverty alongside affluent gated communities1.
Isabella Troy Brazoban: From Personal Loss to Public Advocacy
Isabella Troy Brazoban, a biracial senior at Battery Creek High School, stumbled into activism during a December 2022 school board meeting. She had initially attended to hear her cousin sing but stayed to confront claims linking book content to youth drug use—a narrative that resonated deeply after her brother’s fatal overdose1. “Banning books will not protect us,” she declared, her voice steady as she challenged the board’s rationale15. Her testimony, later featured in the documentary Banned Together, became a rallying cry for students across the district17.
Brazoban’s advocacy quickly expanded beyond Beaufort. By 2023, she had joined the American Library Association’s Rally for the Right to Read, where she emphasized that censorship “silences the very stories that help us heal”6. Her journey from a grieving sister to a national advocate underscored the power of personal narrative in systemic change16.
Elizabeth Foster: Amplifying Marginalized Voices
Elizabeth Foster, a soft-spoken senior at Beaufort Academy, found her voice after witnessing Brazoban’s courage. “We didn’t know what to do... then we saw her, and we were like, ‘Oh, we can do that,’” she recalled1. As the sister of a transgender brother, Foster framed the book bans as part of broader attacks on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. In a poignant Teen Vogue essay, she argued that censors sought to “erase identities they deem controversial,” linking the bans to legislative efforts targeting transgender healthcare and classroom discussions of race2.
Foster’s strategic mindset propelled her to Capitol Hill, where she warned Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) that book challenges were “only the beginning” of authoritarian overreach7. “If they can dictate what we read,” she told him, “they can dictate what we think”7. Her ability to connect local struggles to national political trends solidified her role as a key strategist within the movement127.
Millie Bennett: Grassroots Collaboration and Inclusivity
Millie Bennett, a queer-identifying senior at Beaufort High School, approached activism through community-building. As president of DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization), she transformed the book club into a coalition for change13. “Let Beaufort County uplift each other, rather than take away each other’s voices,” she urged during a packed school board meeting1. Under her leadership, DAYLO organized community review committees that evaluated banned titles page-by-page, hosted author discussions, and partnered with local institutions like the Pat Conroy Literary Center13.
Bennett’s emphasis on collaboration proved pivotal. By 2024, these efforts had reinstated 91 books, demonstrating that “when we work together, censorship loses”13. Her work also highlighted the importance of local solutions in national battles over free expression, earning DAYLO the Richard W. Riley Award for Human & Civil Rights in 20243.
Tactics and Triumphs: Strategic Advocacy and Coalition-Building
The students’ success stemmed from a blend of bold tactics and inclusive collaboration. They consistently attended school board meetings, countering emotional appeals from censors with data-driven arguments and personal stories157. For example, Brazoban often cited studies showing that access to diverse literature reduces bullying, while Foster highlighted the mental health benefits of LGBTQ+ representation12.
Beyond protests, they partnered with librarians to create community review committees—a model later adopted by districts nationwide13. These committees evaluated banned books in their full context, rather than judging them by isolated excerpts15. Meanwhile, Bennett’s DAYLO coalition organized letter-writing campaigns, author Zoom sessions, and banned book giveaways, fostering dialogue between students and skeptical parents13.
National alliances amplified their impact. Meetings with Rep. Raskin, authors like Jodi Picoult and Ibram X. Kendi, and organizations like PEN America and the ACLU provided resources and visibility67. Their advocacy gained documentary acclaim in Banned Together (2024), which exposed dark-money networks backing censorship groups while celebrating the students’ resilience47. The film’s festival awards and streaming release turned their local fight into a national conversation47.
Legacy and Ongoing Challenges
By 2024, the trio’s impact was undeniable. Beaufort County adopted stricter review protocols to prevent abrupt bans, requiring input from students and certified librarians13. DAYLO chapters multiplied across South Carolina, empowering students to lead anti-censorship campaigns in districts like Greenville and Charleston37. Nationally, their appearance at the 2023 ALA Rally for the Right to Read symbolized a generational shift in activism, with teens increasingly leading the charge for intellectual freedom67.
Yet challenges persist. Moms for Liberty and similar groups continue targeting schools, while educators face harassment for defending inclusive curricula45. “The fight isn’t over—it’s just getting started,” Bennett noted in a 2024 interview1. Foster echoed this, warning that “censorship adapts,” pointing to new efforts to defund libraries or restrict digital resources7.
A Blueprint for Resistance
Isabella Troy Brazoban, Elizabeth Foster, and Millie Bennett exemplify how youth activism can dismantle systemic oppression. By merging personal narrative with strategic advocacy, they transformed a local crisis into a national movement—proving that stories, when defended fiercely, can transcend censorship14. Their journey, chronicled in Banned Together, offers a roadmap for future generations: speak truth to power, build coalitions rooted in empathy, and never underestimate the power of a well-read community147. As Brazoban often reminds audiences, “Books aren’t just pages—they’re bridges. And we won’t let anyone burn them”1.
Citations:
https://glaad.org/book-ban-documentary-elevates-student-voices/
https://www.beaufortlifestyle.com/2024/08/01/daylo-honored-with-richard-w-riley-award/
https://bookriot.com/book-banning-documentary-banned-together-beaufort-south-carolina/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-ban-efforts-beaufort-schools-60-minutes/
