Why Book Bans Are Just Modern-Day Witch Hunts

The more things change, the more they stay the same. While we’re no longer throwing women into rivers to test if they float, we are seeing the modern-day equivalent: banning books that challenge authority.

Across the U.S., certain groups are working overtime to remove books that discuss race, gender, LGBTQ+ experiences, and historical truths. Sound familiar? In the past, women were accused of Witchcraft simply for being educated, independent, or—gasp!—having opinions. Today, books that encourage critical thinking are being ripped from shelves. The goal is the same: control what people know so they’re easier to manipulate.

Books are powerful. They challenge ideas, spark rebellion, and remind us that there are always other ways of thinking and living. That’s why oppressive systems have always feared them. And let’s be real—if a book is being banned, it’s probably worth reading.

And here’s where it gets even more disturbing: Many of the books being banned right now are the same ones that have historically been targeted by regimes looking to silence opposition. Controlling narratives is the oldest trick in the book—literally. If you want to control a population, limit what they know. Keep them from asking questions. Keep them from learning about rebellion, resistance, and liberation.

So, what can we do? Support banned authors. Share their work. Teach what they don’t want us to know. Because knowledge is magic, and magic is meant to be shared. And let’s be real—if they’re this scared of books, it’s because books change things. So let’s keep reading, keep questioning, and keep lighting the fires of knowledge they’re so desperate to put out.