Why Pink Is Giving Away Banned Books at Upcoming Florida Concerts
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Some of Pink's audience members will have a chance to be a little more well-read, as it has been announced that the "What About Us" singer is giving out 2,000 banned books at her upcoming Florida-area concerts.
On Monday, Nov. 13, the pop songstress unveiled her partnership with free expression organization PEN America and Florida bookseller Books & Books, for the charitable act.
As a mother of two who is deeply invested in education and representation for all races and sexual identities, the giveaway is in response to the spike in book bans in the southern state and across the country.
“Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that’s why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools,” the 44-year-old said. “It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color. We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books.”
At both the Miami and Sunrise, Florida, concert stops on November 14-15 as part of her 2023 Trustfall Tour, Pink will give away four books that have appeared in PEN America’s Index of Banned Books: The Family Book by Todd Parr, The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and a book from “Girls Who Code,” founded by Reshma Saujani.
Book ban attempts increased by 33 percent during the 2022-23 school year, according to a PEN America report, with most of the bans taking place during that timeframe in Florida, followed by Texas. "Black and LGBTQ+ authors and books about race, racism, and LGBTQ identities have been disproportionately affected in the book bans," the organization found.
Additionally, book ban attempts have reached record highs each year since the start of the pandemic in 2020, per data from the American Library Association.
Next: 'Deeply Sorry' Pink Announces More Canceled Concerts in New Update
