Texas county faces scrutiny over classification of indigenous history books

Texas Freedom to Read co-founder Laney Hawes said classifying the Indigenous history book as fiction is “unconstitutional.”

Reclassifying a children’s book on Native American History in a Texas library caused an uproar among consumers, activists and library organizations across the country.

Last month, a citizens’ committee in Montgomery County, Texas made the decision to reclassify the children’s book, “Settlement and the Wampanoag Story” by Linda Coombs from children’s nonfiction to children’s fiction in the Montgomery County Memorial Library. After weeks of public complaints, including an open letter signed by 13 organizations, about the decision, a The Montgomery County Commission withdrew the reclassification on Tuesdaymoving the book back to the children’s non-fiction section of the library.

Teresa Kenney, owner of Village Books in Montgomery County, said she was pleased with the commissioners’ decision.

“This move, to move (the book) back to non-fiction was the right one, the only decision they could make,” Kenney told USA TODAY on Thursday.

In addition to the reclassification of the book, the county commission approved the creation of a review committee a POLICY which created the citizen review committee and placed a maintain all commission actions taken since October 1. Formed in March, the committee consists of five Montgomery County residents who have the ability to oversee the materials of the Montgomery County Memorial Library.

Upon requests from community members, the committee may reallocate material to a “more restrictive portion of the library” and may remove material from library circulation entirely, as provided POLICY. The policy does not explicitly allow the committee to reclassify books.

Published in 2023, “Settlement and the Wampanoag Story” tells the story of colonization in the New World from the perspective of the Indigenous Nations of New England, according to the publisher. Penguin Random House. The book is intended for children over 10 years old.

The book was written by Linda Coombs, an author and historian from the Wampanoag tribe of Aquinnah. She has written several books for the Boston Children’s Museum’s Native American Program and worked for 30 years in the Wampanoag Indigenous Program, including 15 years as associate director. Today, Coombs is involved in museum consulting and cultural presentations.

Kelly Delaney, senior editor of Crown Books for Young Readers and publisher of “Colonization and the Wampanoag Story,” said she was relieved by the reversed decision announced Tuesday.

“The book is part of a series, ‘The Race to the Truth,’ which tells the true history of America from a non-white, non-European perspective. This perspective is new to many readers and may make them uncomfortable. , and that’s why it’s so important to publish it,” Delaney said in a statement to USA TODAY. “As publishers, we are committed to amplifying historically underrepresented voices and narratives. We will always support our authors in telling their stories and histories and fight for the public’s freedom to read them.”

Why did the citizen committee try to reclassify the book?

Conformable POLICY which established the Montgomery County Citizens Review Committee, committee meetings will be held in private, so the committee’s decision-making process is unknown. However, the books the committee discusses are public information.

Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack, who presides over the precinct where the library is located, told USA TODAY he’s not sure why County Judge Mark Keough, who drafted the policy, came to where the committee meets in private. USA TODAY reached out to Keough’s office but was unable to reach him for an interview.

In early October, Kenney filed a public information request to obtain information about the books for which the commission has received requests for reconsideration since March. Through this request she learned of the committee’s decision to reclassify “Settlement and the Wampanoag Story.”

Noack said the committee received a request for reconsideration on Sept. 10 and met to review the book on Oct. 3. Kenney added that according to information she received from her request, the library was instructed to move the book to children’s fiction. section until October 10.

The state, national organizations join the public rejection

Because the committee’s final decisions are not shared directly with members of the public, Kenney felt the need to shed light on his decision. She initially contacted Penguin Random House and The Texas Freedom to Read Projectan organization that aims to mobilize community members against book censorship and banning in Texas.

From there, it “took on a life of its own,” Kenney said.

On October 16, 13 organizations shared a public letter To the Montgomery County Citizens’ Review Committee, asking its members to reverse the decision on “Settlement and the Wampanoag Story.”

“‘Settlement and the Wampanoag Story’ is a carefully researched, fact-based account of the indigenous perspective of New England tribes on the impact of European colonization,” letter states. “His move to the fiction section communicates distrust of material that reflects the truth of our American history. It diminished the legitimacy of Coomb’s perspective as a member of the Wampanoag tribe and of the indigenous educators who recommend its use.”

The letter was signed by American Indians in Children’s Literature, American Indian Library Association, Authors Against Book Bans, Authors Guild, Every Library, FReadom Fighters, National Coalition Against Censorship, PEN America, Penguin Random House, Texas Freedom to Read Project, Texas Library Association, Village Books and We Need Miscellaneous Books.

Laney Hawes, co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, said she was “very, very happy” with the commission’s decision Tuesday, but remains concerned about decisions going forward.

“It’s unconstitutional for a government committee to arbitrarily decide what is fiction and nonfiction. It’s not right,” Hawes told USA TODAY on Thursday. “We think it’s really terrifying for the future, because if the government here — it’s a government appointing commission, so we’ll call it the government — declares these stories and these perspectives … as fiction … . What does this mean for all perspectives that may reject the political ideology of those in power?”

What happens next?

As approved by the Montgomery County Commission on Tuesday, the citizens committee will be suspended until the current policy is reviewed.

USA TODAY reached out to the Montgomery County Memorial Library but was unable to reach a staff member for comment.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email them at [email protected].