In Montgomery County, Texas, a decision by a citizens review panel to reclassify Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs as fiction has ignited a firestorm of criticism from anti-censorship advocates and the book's publisher, Penguin Random House. This move comes in response to pressure from rightwing activists, who successfully challenged the book's classification in children's libraries.
The book, published in September 2023, aims to present the story of European settlers' colonization of Indigenous Americans from the perspective of Native people. It is part of Penguin Random House's Race to the Truth series, which includes other titles such as Slavery and the African American Story by Patricia Williams Dockery. According to PEN America, a nonprofit advocating for free expression in literature, the book is a vital educational resource that provides historical insight into the colonization of New England.
Debbie Reese, founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature, criticized the reclassification, stating, “To claim this book is fiction dismisses our perspective and history.” She emphasized that books like Coombs’ work are crucial not only for Native children, who see their existence acknowledged, but also for non-Native kids, who benefit from a more informed understanding of history.
Notably, several libraries, including the Houston Public Library and the Library of Congress, recognize Colonization and the Wampanoag Story as nonfiction. The Montgomery County decision was made without input from any librarian, raising further concerns among local residents and advocates.
Following the decision, the Texas Freedom to Read Project launched a petition demanding the reinstatement of the book in the juvenile nonfiction section of the Montgomery County Memorial Public Library. So far, the petition has garnered over 34,000 signatures. “As Texas parents, we object to the actions taken by the citizens review committee to reclassify a nonfiction book to fiction,” stated Anne Russey, co-founder of the project. “If this decision is allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent for reclassifying other nonfiction books that contain perspectives or facts that some may find objectionable.”
Montgomery County officials have not yet responded to requests for comment. This incident reflects a broader trend in Texas, which ranks second in the nation for book bans, with 1,567 titles removed between July 2021 and December 2023. Only Florida has banned more, with a total of 5,107 titles.
Antonio Diaz, a member of the Texas Indigenous Council, expressed disappointment but not surprise at the reclassification, citing a long history of "whitewashing" Indigenous history in the state. “While it’s upsetting that any government entity would allow individuals to exercise such a bigoted, biased policy, it’s not a surprise in Texas,” he remarked, highlighting the ongoing issues of racism and censorship in the region.
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