A Miami school has restricted students’ access to a poem by African-American Amanda Gorman that was read at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, saying it was not appropriate for younger ages, an organization that opposes it said today. book bans in the US.

A mother of students, Daley Salinas, had requested in late March that five books be removed from the Bob Graham School library, arguing that they were “politically indoctrinating” children, documents obtained by Florida Freedom to Read show. Project.

Among those books was the poem “The Hill We Climb,” which Gorman had recited at Biden’s inauguration. The poet, then 22 years old, had caused a sensation and many of her works were on the bestseller lists at the time.

“The Hill We Climb” aimed to give a message of hope and unity to a divided country.

Written after the storming of the Capitol, January 6, 2021.

The book was moved to the section of the library aimed at students over the age of 11.

This decision brings back to the news the debate on book bans, a particularly sensitive issue in the US. Against the backdrop of the “culture war” between Republicans and Democrats, some conservative states are attempting to police literature, banning from school libraries works they believe promote homosexuality, progressive views or are simply too shocking.

Even classic works such as Toni Morrison’s novels or Art Spiegelman’s award-winning “Mouse” have been targeted by school districts.

Amanda Gorman, the last so far on the “banned” list, said she was “surprised”, noting that this “infringes on freedom of expression and speech”.

However, in its written decision, the Miami school board acknowledged the poem’s educational value, commenting that Gorman is “the youngest poet in US history to have her work read at a presidential inauguration.”